MR SPECTROSCOPY OF BRAIN TUMORS AND CORRELATION OF METABOLIC CHANGES WITH HISTOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Keywords:
magnetic resonance spectroscopy, brain tumors, metabolites, anaplasia, glioblastoma, metastasisAbstract
Introduction: Brain tumors remain one of the most challenging problems in neuro-oncology. Conventional MRI often fails to determine tumor grade accurately. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) offers a promising non-invasive method for evaluating the metabolic profile of brain neoplasms.
Methods: Forty-eight patients with brain tumors were examined using proton MRS (¹H-MRS). Tumors included gliomas (n=33), meningiomas (n=10), and metastases (n=5). Metabolites analyzed included choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), N-acetylaspartate (NAA), lactate (Lac), and lipids (Lip). Correlation and comparative analysis were used to assess the relationship between metabolite levels and tumor histology.
Results: Increased Cho, Lac, and Lip and decreased NAA strongly correlated with higher anaplasia grades (p<0.001). Cho/Cr and Lip/Cr were the most significant markers. NAA/Cr distinguished glioblastomas from metastases (p=0.04). MRS demonstrated high diagnostic value in evaluating metabolic features and malignancy.
Discussion: MRS allows non-invasive grading, differential diagnosis of recurrence vs. radiation necrosis, and monitoring of treatment response. It can reduce the need for biopsy in complex cases and support clinical decision-making in neuro-oncology.
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