phosphocreatine and Neurocytoma

The authors report on the metabolic features of central neurocytomas observed during in vivo single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.. Volume-selective single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed with a 1.5-T unit using a point-resolved spectroscopy sequence (TR/TE = 2000 ms/135 and 270 ms) to obtain spectra of a single 8-cc voxel. The subjects were five patients in the Department of Neurosurgery of Seoul National University Hospital whose central neurocytomas had been diagnosed histologically. The peak intensities of compounds containing choline (Cho), N-acetylaspartate, creatine/phosphocreatine, and lactate were analyzed.. The ratios of Cho to creatine/phosphocreatine and Cho to N-acetylaspartate were significantly higher than ratios in normal brains. A lactate signal was present, and an unidentified signal was also observed at 3.55 ppm, which might have been produced by inositol or glycine.. A combination of the signal at 3.55 ppm and a prominent Cho peak seems to be a characteristic feature of central neurocytomas. Volume-selective single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy could provide additional information to aid in diagnosing this condition.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aspartic Acid; Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms; Cerebral Ventricles; Choline; Creatine; Energy Metabolism; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Male; Neurocytoma; Phosphocreatine; Reference Values