title: Detection and characterization of neurotoxicity in cancer patients using proton MR spectroscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study objective was to detect abnormalities and identify relationships between brain metabolic ratios determined by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging ((1)H-MRSI) and neuropsychological (NP) function in cancer patients at risk for neurotoxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients received (1)H-MRSI using a multi-slice, multi-voxel technique on a 1.5T magnet. Cho/NAA, NAA/Cr, and Cho/Cr ratios were identified in seven pre-determined sites without tumor involvement. A battery of age-appropriate NP tests was administered within 7 days of imaging. Relationships were examined between test scores and metabolite ratios.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identifies relationships between brain metabolite ratios and cognitive functioning in cancer patients. (1)H-MRSI may be useful in early detection of neurotoxic effects, but prospective longitudinal studies in a homogeneous population are recommended to determine the prognostic value.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Emilie A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Steffen-Smith
authors.forename: Pamela L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Wolters
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: Eva H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Kim C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Shimoda
authors.forename: Alan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Katherine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011522:Protons
chemical_list: D011522:Protons; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline