Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of brain tumors correlated with pathology.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) for assessing and grading brain tumors.


METHODS
The research was done at Detroit Medical Center in a 1.5-T Siemens MR magnet using single-voxel or multivoxel MRS. This study consisted of 27 patients: 10 females and 17 males ages 22-83 years (average age 43.8). The data were recorded for three peaks-N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), creatine (Cr)-which were used to calculate the ratios Cho/NAA and Cho/Cr.


RESULTS
Abnormal spectra were seen in 25 patients and normal spectra in 2. In 16 patients with brain astrocytoma of various grades, the pathology grading was correlated with Cho/NAA and Cho/Cr. These values were 6.53 and 3.35 for nine patients with Grade 4 astrocytoma; 1.85 and 1.62 for three patients with Grade 3 astrocytoma; 2.21 and 1.50 for three patients with Grade 2 astrocytoma; and 1.45 and 1.49 for one patient with Grade 1 astrocytoma. The remaining nine patients with abnormal spectra were also correlated with pathology.


CONCLUSIONS
MRS ratios can be used to differentiate malignant and nonmalignant lesions from normal brain tissue. In general, high-grade astrocytoma have higher Cho/NAA and Cho/Cr ratios compared with low-grade astrocytoma.
Magalhaes
Alvaro
A
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, 3990 John R., Wayne State University, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201-2097, USA. amagalha@med.wayne.edu
Godfrey
William
W
Shen
Yimin
Y
Hu
Jiani
J
Smith
Wilbur
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002794:Choline / Q000032:analysis; D003401:Creatine / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005910:Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D018316:Gliosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009837:Oligodendroglioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D011522:Protons
D011522:Protons; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D006859:Hydrogen; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline