title: Clinical magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the central nervous system.
abstract: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) is a noninvasive imaging technique that can easily be added to the conventional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequences. Using MRS one can directly compare spectra from pathologic or abnormal tissue and normal tissue. Metabolic changes arising from pathology that can be visualized by MRS may not be apparent from anatomy that can be visualized by conventional MR imaging. In addition, metabolic changes may precede anatomic changes. Thus, MRS is used for diagnostics, to observe disease progression, monitor therapeutic treatments, and to understand the pathogenesis of diseases. MRS may have an important impact on patient management. The purpose of this chapter is to provide practical guidance in the clinical application of MRS of the brain. This chapter provides an overview of MRS-detectable metabolites and their significance. In addition some specific current clinical applications of MRS will be discussed, including brain tumors, inborn errors of metabolism, leukodystrophies, ischemia, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases. The chapter concludes with technical considerations and challenges of clinical MRS.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: ratai@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Eva-Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ratai
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gilberto González
mesh_terms: D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007294:Inositol / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
chemical_list: D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007294:Inositol; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline
keywords: brain tumors; central nervous system (CNS); magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS); neurodegenerative diseases; pediatric disorders