Mapping of brain metabolite distributions by volumetric proton MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI)

Distributions of proton MR‐detected metabolites have been mapped throughout the brain in a group of normal subjects using a volumetric MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) acquisition with an interleaved water reference. Data were processed with intensity and spatial normalization to enable voxel‐based analysis methods to be applied across a group of subjects. Results demonstrate significant regional, tissue, and gender‐dependent variations of brain metabolite concentrations, and variations of these distributions with normal aging. The greatest alteration of metabolites with age was observed for white‐matter choline and creatine. An example of the utility of the normative metabolic reference information is then demonstrated for analysis of data acquired from a subject who suffered a traumatic brain injury. This study demonstrates the ability to obtain proton spectra from a wide region of the brain and to apply fully automated processing methods. The resultant data provide a normative reference for subsequent utilization for studies of brain injury and disease. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.