Proton and phosphorous MR spectroscopy in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.
OBJECTIVE
Phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P MRS) has been used to evaluate and predict treatment response in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). Several studies have also shown the potential of proton MRS ((1)H MRS) in assessing response in HNSCC. In view of the inherent limitations associated with performing (31)P MRS in clinical settings, the current study was performed to explore whether (1)H MRS could provide similar or complementary metabolic information in HNSCC.


METHODS
Fifteen patients with HNSCC underwent pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging. Both (1)H MRS and (31)P MRS were performed on viable solid parts of the metastatic lymph nodes of these patients. Peak areas of total choline (tCho) and unsuppressed water as observed on (1)H MRS and phosphomonoester (PME) and beta-nucleotide triphosphate (beta-NTP) on (31)P MRS were computed. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to correlate the tCho/water and PME/beta-NTP ratios.


RESULTS
In all patients, the metastatic nodes appeared hyperintense on T2-weighted images and hypointense on T1-weighted images with variable signal intensity. A prominent resonance of tCho on (1)H MRS and a resonance of PME on (31)P MRS from the metastatic nodes of all patients were observed. A moderate correlation of 0.31 was observed between tCho/water and PME/beta-NTP (P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The biochemical pathways involved in (1)H MRS of tCho may be different from the phospholipid metabolites seen on (31)P MRS of head and neck cancers, and thus the two MRS techniques may be complementary to each other.
Chawla
Sanjeev
S
Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, B6 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Kim
Sungheon
S
Loevner
Laurie A
LA
Quon
Harry
H
Wang
Sumei
S
Mutale
Faith
F
Weinstein
Gregory
G
Delikatny
Edward J
EJ
Poptani
Harish
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis*; D011522:Protons; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; D011522:Protons; D010758:Phosphorus