Proton magnetic spectroscopic imaging of the child's brain: the response of tumors to treatment NEURORADIOLOGY Tzika, A. A., Zurakowski, D., Poussaint, T. Y., Goumnerova, L., Astrakas, L. G., Barnes, P. D., Anthony, D. C., Billett, A. L., Tarbell, N. J., Scott, R. M., Black, P. M. 2001; 43 (2): 169-177

Abstract

Our aim was to determine and/or predict response to treatment of brain tumors in children using proton magnetic resonance spectro-scopic imaging (MRSI). We studied 24 patients aged 10 months to 24 years, using MRI and point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS; TR 2000 TE 65 ms) with volume preselection and phase-encoding in two dimensions on a 1.5 T imager. Multiple logistic regression was used to establish independent predictors of active tumor growth. Biologically vital cell metabolites, such as N-acetyl aspartate and choline-containing compounds (Cho), were significantly different between tumor and control tissues (P < 0.001). The eight brain tumors which responded to radiation or chemotherapy, exhibited lower Cho (P = 0.05), higher total creatine (tCr) (P = 0.02) and lower lactate and lipid (L) (P = 0.04) than 16 tumors which were not treated (except by surgery) or did not respond to treatment. The only significant independent predictor of active tumor growth was tCr (P < 0.01). We suggest that tCr is useful in assessing response of brain tumors to treatment.

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View details for PubMedID 11326567