[Application of 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy in differential diagnosis of brain low-grade gliomas and demyelinating diseases].
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical value of 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in differential diagnosis of brain low-grade gliomas and demyelinating diseases.


METHODS
1H-MRS was performed in 24 patients with low-grade gliomas and 22 patients with demyelinating diseases and the results were retrospectively reviewed. The metabolites including N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), and creatine (Cr) were detected in different areas including lesions and the normal brain. The ratios of NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho, and Cho/Cr were also computed.


RESULTS
Compared with the normal brain tissue, low-grade gliomas and demyelinating diseases had significantly different ratios of NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho, and Cho/Cr (P < 0.05). The ratios of NAA/Cho and Cho/Cr were significantly different between low-grade gliomas and demyelinating diseases (P < 0.05), while the ratio of NAA/Cr was not significantly different (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The ratio of NAA/Cho and Cho/Cr is remarkably different between low-grade gliomas and demyelinating diseases. It can a useful indicator for differential diagnosis of these two diseases by 1H-MRS.
Hou
Xin-Yi
XY
Imaging Center of Neuroscience, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
Gao
Pei-Yi
PY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult