Localised proton spectroscopy and spectroscopic imaging in cerebral gliomas, with comparison to positron emission tomography

• Published in: Neuroradiology Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 198 - 206
• Main Authors: GO, K. G, KAMMAN, R. L, MOOYAART, E. L, HEERSTERS, M. A. A. M, PRUIM, J, VAALBURG, W, PAANS, A. M. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-04-1995
• Subjects: Aspartic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Aspartic Acid - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain Chemistry; Brain Edema - diagnosis; Carbon Radioisotopes; Creatine - analysis; Deoxyglucose - analogs & derivatives; Fluorine Radioisotopes; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Glioma - chemistry; Glioma - diagnosis; Glioma - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Lactates - analysis; Lactic Acid; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Medical sciences; Neurology; Phosphorylcholine - analysis; Supratentorial Neoplasms - chemistry; Supratentorial Neoplasms - diagnosis; Supratentorial Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Tomography, Emission-Computed; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; Tyrosine; Radionuclide study; Human; Nervous system diseases; Glioma; Central nervous system disease; Proton; Tumor; Exploration; NMR spectrometry; Comparative study; Positron; Emission tomography
• ISSN: 0028-3940; 1432-1920
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01578258

In 32 patients with gliomas, one- and two-dimensional proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) has been conducted, the latter allowing reconstruction of spectroscopic data into a spectroscopic image (MRSI), showing the distribution of the various metabolite concentrations over the cross-sectional plane. For lack of absolute concentrations, the measured concentrations of phosphocholine (CHOL), N-acetyl-L-aspartate (NAA), and lactate (LAC) were conventionally expressed in ratios relative to that of creatine (CREAT). Compared to normal brain tissue, an increased CHOL/CREAT ratio was found in all groups of tumours, in glioblastomas, high-, middle- and low-grade astrocytomas both at the margin and the core of the tumours, but in oligodendrogliomas only at the margin. This is consistent with an increased phosphocholine turnover in relation to membrane biosynthesis by the proliferating cells. The NAA/CREAT ratio was decreased in all groups of tumours, both in the centre and at the margin, reflecting replacement of functioning neurons by neoplastic cells. The LAC/CREAT ratio was elevated in the core of malignant gliomas, which may be the result of a prevailing glycolysis, characteristic of tumours, possibly in conjunction with hypoxia/ischaemia. In the perifocal oedema, there was neither elevation of the CHOL/CREAT ratio nor decrease of the NAA/CREAT ratio; an increased LAC/CREAT ratio therefore rather reflected ischaemia/hypoxia probably due to locally elevated pressure and compromised regional perfusion. In the normal brain, the metabolite ratios of grey matter did not differ from those of white matter. The frontal lobe and basal ganglia showed lower NAA/CREAT ratios than the other cerebral areas.