Correlation between preoperative magnetic resonance spectroscopic data on high grade gliomas and morphology of Ki-67-positive tumor cell nuclei.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate possible statistical correlations between metabolic data from preoperative proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HMRS) and morphology of proliferating tumor cell nuclei in anaplastic gliomas and glioblastomas.


METHODS
Ki-67-positive tumor cell nuclei in paraffin sections of surgical specimens from 36 patients (7 anaplastic gliomas, World Health Organization grade 3; 29 glioblastomas, World Health Organization grade 4) were investigated by means of a digital image analysis system. Stringent inclusion criteria were formulated for all cases with respect to histologic quality and spectroscopic examination. As morphometric variables, nuclear area, shape variables (roundness factor, size-invariate Fourier amplitudes) and density of Ki-67-positive tumor cell nuclei per reference area were determined.


RESULTS
Correlation analysis according to Spearman revealed a significant positive correlation between the total creatine (TCR) peak and nuclear area (P = .005). This correlation was also found within the glioblastoma group (P = .019). There was also a significant negative correlation of nuclear area with the ratio between choline and TCR in all cases (P = .014) and within the glioblastoma group (P = .046). No significant correlation of spectroscopic data was found with nuclear shape or density of Ki-67-positive tumor cell nuclei.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrate a correlation between spectroscopic data and morphology of proliferating tumor cell nuclei (nuclear size) in high grade gliomas. This study is part of a detailed investigation of the interrelationship between preoperative 1HMRS and quantitative histomorphology of gliomas.
Nafe
Reinhold
R
Department of Neuroradiology, Clinics of Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Schleusenweg 2-16, D-60528 Frankfurt, Germany.
Herminghaus
Sebastian
S
Raab
Peter
P
Wagner
Sabine
S
Pilatus
Ulrich
U
Schlote
Wolfgang
W
Zanella
Friedhelm
F
Lanfermann
Heinrich
H
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D011300:Preoperative Care
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen