[Clinical application of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy for differential diagnosis of pediatric posterior fossa tumors]

Neurol Neurochir Pol. 2001:35 Suppl 5:19-25.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

We report here on a correlation between proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) spectra obtained in children with posterior fossa tumors and tumor histology and grading. Twenty-six children (age 1-16) were investigated before surgery by using single-voxel proton MRS. All examination were performed on a 1.5 T MR scanner by using single-voxel (8 cm3) with PRESS sequence (TR 1600 ms, TE 270 ms, NEX 256). Spectra of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline containing compounds (Cho), creatine and phosphocreatine (Cr) and lactate (Lac) were evaluated. Absolute concentrations of the metabolites were measured and their ratios were calculated. Correlation between these and tumor histology and grading were then determined. Concentration of Cho and Lac, and Cho/NAA ratio were the major statistically significant parameters for discrimination between benign (WHO grade I and II) and malignant tumors (WHO grade III and IV), in particular between pilocytic astrocytomas and medulloblastomas. Discrimination between individual histological types within malignant and benign tumor groups was not possible. Proton MRS of pediatric posterior fossa tumors seems to be helpful in prediction of tumor grading and histology. Specific character of the examination requires establishing of the individual standards for every MR scanner.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Aspartic Acid / metabolism
  • Astrocytoma / metabolism
  • Astrocytoma / pathology
  • Astrocytoma / surgery
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Choline / metabolism
  • Creatine / metabolism
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infratentorial Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Infratentorial Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Infratentorial Neoplasms / surgery
  • Lactic Acid / metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy* / methods
  • Male
  • Medulloblastoma / metabolism
  • Medulloblastoma / pathology
  • Medulloblastoma / surgery
  • Phosphocreatine / metabolism
  • Protons
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • Protons
  • Phosphocreatine
  • Aspartic Acid
  • Lactic Acid
  • N-acetylaspartate
  • Creatine
  • Choline