title: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients with symptomatic unilateral internal carotid artery / middle cerebral artery stenosis or occlusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the value of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging ((1)H-MRSI) in patients with stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) / middle cerebral artery (MCA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty noninfarcted patients with stenosis or occlusion of unilateral ICA/MCA were included in our study. In the meantime, 25 patients with cerebral infarction and 25 healthy control subjects were enrolled. All patients and healthy control subjects underwent (1)H-MRSI. Cerebral metabolic changes were studied in the noninfarcted patients and compared with the infarcted patients as well as healthy control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 50 noninfarcted patients N-acetylaspartate (NAA) decreased and choline increased in the ischemic hemisphere compared with the contralateral side and control subjects. Lactate peaks were observed in 12 patients. The metabolic changes were relatively slight but were associated with metabolic disruption in infarcted patients. There were relationships between metabolic abnormalities and neurological status of the noninfarcted patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (1)H-MRSI can demonstrate abnormal metabolic changes in cerebral tissues with no infarction, while with ICA/MCA may show stenosis or occlusion at an early stage, which may help guide treatment decisions and preoperative evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Liqun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Qingfeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Kuncheng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult