title: Short echo time single voxel 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the diagnosis and characterisation of pineal tumours in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been successful in characterising a range of brain tumours and is a useful aid to non-invasive diagnosis. The pineal region poses considerable surgical challenges and a major surgical resection is not required in the management of all tumours. Improved non-invasive assessment of pineal region tumours would be of considerable benefit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single voxel MRS (TE 30 ms, TR 1500, 1.5 T) was performed on 15 pineal tumours: 5 germinomas, 1 non-germinomatous secreting germ cell tumour (GCT), 2 teratomas, 5 pineoblastomas, 1 pineal parenchymal tumour (PPT) of intermediate differentiation and 1 pineocytoma. Two germinomas outside the pineal gland were also studied. Metabolite, lipid and macromolecule concentrations were determined with LCModel™.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Germ cell tumours had significantly higher lipid and macromolecule concentrations than other tumours (t-test; P < 0.05). The teratomas had significantly lower total choline and creatine levels than germinomas (z test; P < 0.05). Taurine was convincingly detected in germinomas as well as PPTs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is useful for characterising pineal region tumours, aiding the non-invasive diagnosis and giving additional biological insight.
authors.affiliation: Academic Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Nigel P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Shaun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: MacPherson
authors.forename: Kal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Natarajan
authors.forename: Martin W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: English
authors.forename: Marie-Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brundler
authors.forename: Theodoros N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Arvanitis
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Grundy
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Peet
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D011522:Protons; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011522:Protons