title: In vivo and in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a tool for investigating hepatobiliary disease: a review of H and P MRS applications.
abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a non-invasive technique, which allows the study of cellular biochemistry and metabolism. It is a diverse research tool, widely used by biochemists to investigate pathophysiological processes in vitro and, more recently, by physicians to determine disease abnormalities in vivo. This article reviews the basics of the NMR phenomenon and summarises previous research on the hepatobiliary system using both laboratory-based and clinical methodologies. The role of proton and phosphorus-31 ((31)P) NMR spectroscopy in the study of malignant and non-malignant liver disease and studies of bile composition are discussed. In vivo techniques (magnetic resonance spectroscopy, MRS) can be performed as an adjunct to standard MR examination of the liver. Although still primarily a research tool, the in vivo technique provides non-invasive biochemical information on disease severity and holds promise in its use to gauge response to treatment regimens.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Department of Medicine A, St Mary's Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, 10th Floor, QEQM Building, London W2 1NY, UK. shahid.khan@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Shahid A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: I Jane
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Howard C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Simon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Taylor-Robinson
mesh_terms: D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes