title: Spectroscopic and perfusion magnetic resonance imaging predictors of progression in pediatric brain tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In vivo biomarkers to predict progression of brain tumors are of great value in clinical practice. Therefore, the authors tested the hypothesis that changes in choline ratios by magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopic imaging and/or relative tumor blood volume (rTBV) can differentiate clinically stable from progressive pediatric brain tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  MR spectroscopic imaging examinations were performed on 27 children with neuroglial brain tumors during therapy on a 1.5-Tesla MR system. Normalized rTBV values were measured in 11 of 27 patients. Each examination was rated as stable or progressive by clinical and imaging criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percent change in normalized choline (Cho) was significantly greater in patients who had progressive examinations compared with patients who had stable examinations (P = 0.03). The percent change in Cho/N-acetylaspartate (Cho/NAA) was significantly higher in patients who had progressive outcomes (n = 18 patients) compared with patients who had stable outcomes (n = 32 patients; P < 0.001; sensitivity, 0.89; specificity, 0.88) and was identified as the most important prognostic indicator of tumor progression by logistic regression (likelihood ratio test, 33.4; P < 0.001). The odds of tumor progression were approximately 55 times greater for patients who showed at least a 20% change in Cho/NAA. rTBV distinguished between progressing and stable tumors (P = 0.03), and Cho/NAA and rTBV values showed interaction to predict the probability of a progressing clinical outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The percent change in Cho/NAA by proton MR spectroscopic imaging, assisted by rTBV, was useful in predicting tumor progression in children with brain tumors.
authors.affiliation: NMR Surgical Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. atzika@partners.org
authors.forename: A Aria
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tzika
authors.forename: Loukas G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Astrakas
authors.forename: Maria K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Zarifi
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zurakowski
authors.forename: Tina Young
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Poussaint
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goumnerova
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Tarbell
authors.forename: Peter McL
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002794:Choline / Q000032:analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D002794:Choline