Quantification of cerebral metabolites in glioma patients with proton MR spectroscopy using T2 relaxation time correction

• Published in: Magnetic resonance imaging Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. 343 - 349
• Main Authors: Isobe, Tomonori, Matsumura, Akira, Anno, Izumi, Yoshizawa, Takashi, Nagatomo, Yasushi, Itai, Yuji, Nose, Tadao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.05.2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Chemistry; Brain Neoplasms - metabolism; Case-Control Studies; Female; Glioma; Glioma - metabolism; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Nervous system; Neurology; quantification; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; T1 relaxation time; T2 relaxation time; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy; quantification; Glioma; T1 relaxation time; T2 relaxation time; Human; Intracranial; Nervous system diseases; Metabolite; NMR spectrometry; Malignant tumor; Relaxation time; Cerebral disorder; Malignant glioma; Central nervous system disease; Proton; Diagnosis; Technique; Corrections; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0730-725X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0730-725X(02)00500-3

This study was aimed to investigate the significance of absolute concentration of metabolites in glioma patients using proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) with T2 relaxation time correction using three different echo times. The absolute concentrations of metabolites in 7 normal subjects and in 23 gliomas (10 low-grade, 13 high-grade) were obtained by proton MRS using a tissue water signal as an internal standard. The signal intensities of metabolites and tissue water were corrected by T2 relaxation time. In low-grade glioma, the T2 relaxation time of NAA was shorter, and T2 relaxation time of water was prolonged as compared to normal subjects (p < 0.001). In high-grade glioma, the T2 relaxation time of NAA (p < 0.001) and T2 relaxation time of Cr (p < 0.01) were shorter, and T2 relaxation time of water (p < 0.001) was prolonged as compared to normal subjects. Moreover, high-grade gliomas revealed a shorter T2 relaxation time of Cr than low-grade gliomas (p < 0.05). In glioma, NAA and Cr concentration were decreased, and Cho were increased as compared to normal subjects. Moreover, high-grade glioma revealed a significant lower Cr (p < 0.001) and Cho (p < 0.01) concentration compared to low-grade gliomas. Low Cr concentration is the most reliable indicator of malignancy in glioma. Cho concentration did not correlate with malignancy in gliomas.