Monovoxel 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the progression of gliomas

Eur Neurol. 2007;58(4):198-209. doi: 10.1159/000107940. Epub 2007 Sep 7.

Abstract

Aim: Can monovoxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) reliably follow tumour progression in low-grade glioma?

Materials and methods: 21 patients with low-grade glioma underwent at least 3 MRS.

Results: For progression from a grade II to grade III tumour, a sensitivity of 57.1% and specificity of 60% were observed, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 48.8% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 54.5%. For progression under treatment, we obtained a sensitivity of 57.1% by N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/choline (Cho) and myoinositol/creatine (Cr) and a specificity of 100% by Cho/Cr and lipids, with a PPV of 80% and a NPV of 63.6%.

Conclusion: We found that NAA/Cho is the best marker of tumour progression before therapy, with a sensitivity of 53.9%. For the therapeutic response, sensitivity was only 28.2%.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Aspartic Acid / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Choline / metabolism
  • Creatine / metabolism
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Glioma / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Inositol / metabolism
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Protons
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Protons
  • Aspartic Acid
  • Inositol
  • N-acetylaspartate
  • Creatine
  • Choline