title: 3-T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of central neurocytoma: 3 case reports and review of the literature.
abstract: Central neurocytoma (CNC), first described by Hassoun et al in 1982, is a rare neuronal tumor of the central nervous system, accounting for 0.25% to 0.5% of all central nervous system tumors. To our knowledge, there are only 5 published articles reporting the magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) findings of neurocytomas. The 3-T proton MRS findings of 3 cases with CNC confirmed by immunohistochemical stains are reported here. Increased choline (Cho)/creatine (Cr) ratios with decreased N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/Cr ratios were observed in all 3 cases, but only 1 case had an increased peak at 3.55 ppm known as glycine (Gly). The other case with an increased alanine peak at 1.5 ppm had a poor prognosis. Therefore, we conclude that the presence of a Gly peak may suggest the diagnosis of CNC but that the absence of Gly does not exclude the diagnosis of CNC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ming-Tsung
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Wei-Chen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Huei-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Gin-Chung
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shih-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: I-Chan
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Chiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D018306:Neurocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline; D000409:Alanine; D005998:Glycine