In vivo 1H MRSI of glycine in brain tumors at 3T

Sandeep K. Ganji, Elizabeth A. Maher, Changho Choi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose MR spectroscopic imaging (SI) of glycine (Gly) in the human brain is challenging due to the interference of the abundant neighboring J-coupled resonances. Our aim is to accomplish reliable imaging of Gly in healthy brain and brain tumors using an optimized MR sequence scheme at 3 tesla. Methods Two-dimensional 1H SI was performed with a point-resolved spectroscopy scheme. An echo time of 160 ms was used for separation between Gly and myo-inositol signals. Data were collected from eight healthy volunteers and 14 subjects with gliomas. Spectra were analyzed with the linear combination model using numerically calculated basis spectra. Metabolite concentrations were estimated with reference to creatine in white matter (WM) regions at 6.4 molar concentrations (mM). Results From a linear regression analysis with respect to the fractional gray matter (GM) content, the Gly concentrations in pure GM and WM in healthy brains were estimated to be 1.1 and 0.3 mM, respectively. Gly was significantly elevated in tumors. The tumor-to-contralateral Gly concentration ratio was more extensive with higher grades, showing 10-fold elevation of Gly in glioblastomas. Conclusion The Gly level is significantly different between GM and WM in healthy brains. Our data indicate that SI of Gly may provide a biomarker of brain tumor malignancy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)52-62
Number of pages11
JournalMagnetic resonance in medicine
Volume75
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2016

Keywords

  • 3T
  • H MRSI
  • PRESS (point-resolved spectroscopy)
  • glycine
  • human brain, gliomas

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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