Proton MR spectroscopy of experimental brain tumors in vivo

F98 gliomas, E367 neuroblastomas, and RN6 Schwannomas in rat brain were studied non-invasively in vivo by localized proton MR spectroscopy (MRS). The spectra obtained from homotopic brain contralateral to the tumors were qualitatively indistinguishable from those of normal rat brain in vivo and showed resonance lines assigned to N-acetylaspartate, glutamate, total creatine (creatine and phosphocreatine), choline, glucose, and myo-inositol. The tumor spectra displayed marked differences compared to those obtained from contralateral brain. There were increases in choline, myo-inositol and lipids, which are presumably associated with increased membrane turnover. The presence of lactate indicated anaerobic glycolysis. Other differences included the absence of signals from NAA resulting from the destruction or displacement of neuronal tissue by the tumor. There was also a loss of total creatine. Although the spectra of all three tumor types were distinct from contralateral brain, there were no obvious differences between the different tumor types.