Short echo time MR spectroscopy of brain tumors: grading of cerebral gliomas by correlation analysis of normalized spectral amplitudes.
OBJECTIVE
To process single voxel spectra of low- and high-grade gliomas. To propose correlation analysis of the scatter plots of normalized spectral amplitudes as a pattern recognition tool for the classification (grading) of brain tumors. To propose a spectrum processing approach that improves the differentiation of proton spectra with dominating macromolecule and lipid peaks.


METHODS
LCModel was used to process spectra. Mean metabolite concentrations and mean normalized spectra were obtained for normal white matter and for gliomas. The mean spectra of macromolecules and lipids (ML) in the range 1.4-0.9 ppm, and mean difference spectra (DS) without ML and lactate were computed. Correlation analysis of the scatter plot of the patient and mean normalized spectral amplitudes and dispersion of the scatter plot points were used for classification and grading of tumors.


RESULTS
It was found advantageous to perform the classifications using DS spectra. The shape of ML spectrum and concentration of tCr seem to be a good markers for glioma grade.


CONCLUSIONS
Combining a qualitative comparison of the patient and mean DS spectra of the tumors using correlation analysis of normalized spectra amplitudes with a quantitative comparison of metabolite concentrations is a powerful tool in studying brain lesions.
Weis
Jan
J
Department of Radiology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. jan.weis@radiol.uu.se
Ring
Patrik
P
Olofsson
Tommie
T
Ortiz-Nieto
Francisco
F
Wikström
Johan
J
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011522:Protons; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011522:Protons