[OA042] Correlation of magnetic resonance spectroscopy and histological findings in brain tumors

Purpose The method of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) imprints with a fast and a non-destructive manner series of brain metabolites as well as their concentration within brain parenchyma. Furthermore, it illustrates the infiltrative character of brain tumors. These MRS indicators correspond to biochemical products of the carcinogenesis procedure, such as cell proliferation, cell metabolism, cells’ destruction, necrosis, hemorrhagic and cystic elements. The combination of the macroscopic translated information of MRS along with the microscopic findings of Pathologoanatomy can differentiate in a reliable manner between the various types of cancer and assess therapies. Methods MRS technique has the potential to diagnose brain tumors in in vivo, in a non-invasive manner, without using ionizing radiation, with good spatial and temporal resolution. A number of patients with brain glioma were imaged with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy followed, as well as Perfusion measurements and post injection MRI. All examinations were performed in a 1.5 Tesla Signa HDxt General Electric system. The MRI protocol involved T2 Flair, T2, gradient-echo T2*, T1, Diffusion, Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), Tractography, Perfusion and post injected contrast medium MRI. MRS protocol involved both single voxel as well as 3-D Chemical Shift Imaging (CSI). Results This study illustrates the correlation between MRI and MRS macroscopic findings with the microscopic pathologoanatomical ones: Diffusion with cellularity, DTI with neuronal axons’ destruction, Perfusion with neovascularization, MRS with brain metabolism, cell proliferation, necrosis, hemorrhage, anaerobic glycolysis, etc. MRS can also demonstrate infiltration of tumor cells within brain parenchyma even in cases where MRI fails to do so, due to the fact that the local cell biochemical background is at an initial stage. Conclusions MRS is a non-invasive technique that provides useful and conclusive information regarding differential diagnosis of brain tumors.