Uterine cervical punch biopsy specimens can be analyzed by 1H MRS

Biopsy specimens of the uterine cervix, including colposcopically directed punch biopsy specimens of females with atypical Papanicolaou smear tests, are suitable for analysis by magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy. A narrow lined lipid MR spectrum, characteristic of malignant tissue, is obtained from a 6-mm3 biopsy specimen of histologically confirmed squamous carcinoma of the cervix. In contrast, specimens containing inflammatory cells generate a broad component only centered at 1.3 ppm with a T2 relaxation value of less than 350 ms. Most biopsy specimens which contain dysplastic cells or evidence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection have a discernible lipid spectrum similar to that of the malignant tissue specimen. Long T2 relaxation values found in malignant tissue specimens at 1.3 and 1.2 ppm are observed in some but not all of the biopsies which show evidence of HPV infection. The suitability of small tissue samples, such as punch biopsy specimens, for study by MR illustrates the sensitivity of this technique and its potential as an aid to histopathological discrimination between the various precursor states of cervical cancer.