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Registered Bioimaging of Nanomaterials for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Monitoring
Published on: December 9, 2010
Classification of biopsy-confirmed brain tumors using single-voxel MR spectroscopy
M E Meyerand1, J M Pipas, A Mamourian
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Biomedical NMR Research Lab, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Hanover, NH, USA.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|February 12, 1999
Summary
In vivo proton spectroscopy can classify astrocytomas by grade using metabolic ratios. This noninvasive method offers an alternative to biopsy for brain tumor diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
Background:
- Astrocytomas require accurate grading for treatment.
- Intracranial biopsy is invasive and carries risks.
- In vivo proton spectroscopy offers a noninvasive alternative.
Purpose of the Study:
- Develop a classification scheme for astrocytomas using in vivo proton spectroscopy.
- Align spectroscopic data with biopsy-based histopathologic classification.
- Evaluate spectroscopy as a noninvasive diagnostic tool.
Main Methods:
- Acquired single-voxel proton spectra using point-resolved spectroscopy on a 1.5-T MRI scanner.
- Analyzed data from 27 patients with biopsy-confirmed astrocytomas (low-grade, anaplastic, glioblastoma multiforme).
- Normalized metabolite peak areas (choline, creatine, N-acetylaspartate, lactate) to water and creatine peaks.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant differences in metabolite/water ratios were found among tumor groups.
- Lactate/water ratio distinguished all three astrocytoma grades.
- Choline/water ratio differentiated low-grade from high-grade astrocytomas.
Conclusions:
- Relative metabolic peak area ratios from contrast-enhancing astrocytomas can classify histopathologic grade.
- Proton spectroscopy provides a noninvasive method for grading astrocytomas.
- Spectroscopic classification correlates with biopsy findings.
