Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and intracranial tumours: Clinical perspectives

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( ¹H-MRS) was applied to characterize intracranial tumours of different hystological types. Seventy patients with intracranial neoplasms were studied before receiving surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. All tumours were characterized by reduced or absent N-acetylaspartate and increased signal from choline-containing compounds. Distinctive patterns were observed only for primitive brain neo-plasms; high-grade gliomas were differentiated from low-grade ones by higher levels of choline-containing compounds. The metabolic aspects of metastatic lesions were similar to high-grade gliomas. These results, together with the limitations of ¹H-MRS and future applications are reviewed.