Manually adjusted versus vendor-preset definition of metabolite boundaries impact on proton metabolite ratios.
OBJECTIVE
Metabolite peak boundary definition is an important postprocessing step in proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). We compare metabolite ratios calculated using three different postprocessing strategies: software-rendered default peak boundaries, manually adjusted peak boundaries and a curve-fitting program. The first two of these methods are commercially available.


METHODS
A total of 42 spectra acquired on a 1.5-T MR unit using two-dimensional chemical shift proton MR spectroscopy (TR/TE = 1500/144 ms) were analyzed. Choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) relative concentrations were derived and the following metabolite ratios were calculated: Cho/Cr, Cho/NAA, and NAA/Cr. Metabolite concentrations/ratios were calculated using (a) default peak boundaries rendered by commercially available, postprocessing software (Functool 2000, version 2.6.0); (b) manually adjusted peak boundaries by an experienced spectroscopist, using an option offered by the same commercially available software; and (c) an offline in-house curve-fitting program. Measurements obtained with method (c) were considered as the "gold standard." Paired t-tests comparing default and adjusted metabolite ratios, as well as default and adjusted ratios with their respective curve-fit values were used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Significant differences between default and manually adjusted values were found for Cho/Cr ratios <1.5 and for all Cho/NAA ratios. For Cho/Cr ratios <1.5, significant differences between default and curve-fit values were present; this was not the case when comparing manually adjusted and curve-fit values. Default and manually adjusted Cho/NAA ratios were significantly higher than corresponding curve-fit ratios. Manually adjusted values were, however, closer to the curve-fit values. No significant differences were noted between default and adjusted NAA/Cr values; default and manually adjusted ratios were significantly lower than curve-fit ratios.


CONCLUSIONS
There can be significant differences in metabolite ratios calculated using default and manually adjusted peak limits in proton MR spectroscopy. Furthermore, Cho/Cr and NAA/Cho adjusted metabolite ratios are closer to curve-fit values, which are considered the most accurate of the three.
Petrou
Myria
M
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MIMI 48109-0030, USA. mpetrou@med.umich.edu
Sundgren
Pia C
PC
Pang
Yuxi
Y
Rohrer
Suzan
S
Foerster
Bradley
B
Chenevert
Thomas L
TL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002648:Child; D002713:Chlorine / Q000032:analysis; D003401:Creatine / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011522:Protons; D012984:Software
D011522:Protons; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D002713:Chlorine; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine