Multiple MR Spectroscopy Of Human Astrocytoma

Objective:Astrocytoma is the most common primary cerebral neoplasm in human brain. Comprehend the tumor malignancy could do good to the treatment and the prognosis. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is the only one non-invasive method to quantify the metabolic products in vivo.The purpose of our study is to evaluate the application value of multiple MRS in human astrocytoma. Methods:Perform the MRS examination in 21 patients who had astrocytoma in West China Hospital from november 2003 to march 2004 with the Simens 1.5T Sonata MR inventory.Analysis the MRS character in different pathologic grade.Statistic the metabolic products between the normal side and the tumor. Results:A significant difference of MRS exists between the normal side and the astrocytoma.Lower NAA and higher Cho was seen in the MRS of astrocytoma.Lac significantly increased in high grade astrocytoma.Cr was stable in different side and grade.MI sometimes increased in theastrocytomaJn the MRS of the necrosis area of glioblastoma, decrease of Cho and Cr and increase of Lac could be seen.In surrounding area of glioblastoma,the MRS shows the increased Cho and Lac.With the step up of pathologic grade,the Cho/Cr and Lac/Cr increased,while the NAA/Cr and Naa/Cho decreased.There is a significant difference of NAA/Cho between the low grade and the high grade astrocytoma.A significant difference of Lac/Cr exists in WHO grade 3 and grade 4 astrocytoma. Conclusion:A significant difference of MRS exists between the normal side and the astrocytoma.MRS is a useful method to differentiat human astrocytoma grade with calculating the NAA/Cho ratios and the Lac/Cr ratios.Multi-voxel MR spectroscopy may be a tool to diagnosis the tumor invasive area.