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[Phosphorus-31-MR spectroscopy imaging in preoperative embolization treatment of meningioma]
M Blankenhorn1, P Bachert, W Semmler
1Forschungsschwerpunkt Radiologische Diagnostik und Therapie, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Heidelberg.
Purpose:
31P MR spectroscopic imaging (31P SI) was evaluated in a clinical study as a method for monitoring presurgical devascularization of meningiomas. The aim was to assess noninvasively metabolic alterations in tumor and in healthy brain tissue before and after embolization.
Methods:
Localized 31P MR spectra of the brain were obtained by means of 2D-SI (voxel size: 36 cm3) using a 1,5-T whole-body MR tomograph.
Results:
Eleven of 19 patients with intracranial meningiomas examined in this study underwent preoperative embolization therapy; eight patients were examined before and after treatment. After embolization, alterations of pH and of the concentrations of high-energy phosphates (nucleoside-5' triphosphate = NTP, phosphocreatine = PCr), inorganic phosphate (Pi), and membrane constituents were observed in the tumors. A tendency of [Pi] increase and decrease of [NTP], [PCr], and pH predominated, which is explained by ischemic processes after tumor devascularization.
Conclusion:
31P SI is applicable in clinical studies and detects alterations of phosphate metabolism in a meningioma after embolization.