Correlation of proton MR spectroscopy and diffusion tensor imaging.
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) provides indices of neuronal damage. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) relates to water diffusivity and fiber tract orientation. A method to compare (1)H-MRS and DTI findings was developed, tested on phantom and applied on normal brain. Point-resolved spectroscopy (T(R)/T(E)=1500/135) was used for chemical shift imaging of a supraventricular volume of interest of 8 x 8 x 2 cm(3) (64 voxels). In DTI, a segmental spin-echo sequence (T(R)/T(E)=5500/91) was used and slices were stacked to reproduce the slab used in MRS. The spatial distributions of choline and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) correlated to mean fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for the inner 6 x 6=36 voxels defined in MRS, most notably NAA and ADC value (r=-.70, P<.00001; correlation across four subjects, 144 data pairs). This is the first association of neuron metabolite contents in volunteers with structure as indicated by DTI.
Irwan
Roy
R
Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. r.irwan@rad.umcg.nl
Sijens
Paul E
PE
Potze
Jan-Hendrik
JH
Oudkerk
Matthijs
M
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002794:Choline / Q000032:analysis; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012016:Reference Values
D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D002794:Choline