title: ¹H magnetic resonance spectroscopy: a review of the current literature and its potential utility in veterinary oncology.
abstract: Advanced imaging of veterinary cancer patients has evolved in recent years and modalities once limited to human medicine have now been described for diagnostic purposes in veterinary medicine (positron emission tomography/computed tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography, whole body magnetic resonance imaging). Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a non-invasive and non-ionizing technique that is well described in the human medical literature and is most frequently used to evaluate the metabolic activity of tissues with questionable malignant transformation. Differentiation of neoplastic tissue from surrounding normal tissue is dependent on variations in cellular metabolism. Positive identification of malignancy can be made when neoplastic alterations are occurring at the cellular level prior to gross anatomic changes. This improved, early detection of cancer occurrence (or recurrence) can improve patient survival and direct medical therapy. MRS techniques are largely underutilized in veterinary medicine, with current research predominantly limited to the brain (both evaluation of normal and diseased tissue). Given the clinical utility of MRS in humans, the technique may also be useful in the staging of cancer in veterinary medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: kclynch2@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Choline; Imaging; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Oncology; Veterinary