MRS of brain tumors: Diagrammatic representations and diagnostic approach

Purpose

To evaluate magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the assessment of brain tumors and grading brain glioma.

Patients and methods

Retrospective study was done for 42 patients with diagrammatic representations suggested by the author for the assessment of MRS data.

Results

Pathology grading was correlated with metabolic ratios in cases of brain glioma. Ratios higher than 1.5 for either Cho/Cr or Cho/NAA were consistent with tumors and ratios higher than 2 were consistent with high grade glioma or metastases.

Conclusion

MRS can be used to grade cases of brain glioma. Diagrammatic representations and a diagnostic approach were suggested by the author to simplify clinical practice.