Semin Neurol 2008; 28: 407-422 DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1083685
© Thieme Medical Publishers
MR Spectroscopy in Diagnosis and Neurological Decision-Making
Victor Xu1,2, Henry Chan1, Alexander P. Lin1,2, Napapon Sailasuta1,2, Samuel Valencerina3, Thao Tran1,2, Jan Hovener1, Brian D. Ross1,2
1 Clinical Magnetic Resonance Unit, Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Pasadena, California 2 Rudi Schulte Research Institute, Santa Barbara, California 3 University Hospital Imaging Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

ABSTRACT

One of the most prolific chemical and anatomical imaging techniques of recent decades, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), includes the ability to noninvasively assess neurochemical changes with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Practical concerns are paramount in applying MRS, such as what the manufacturer provides with a routine MRI scanner, what methods are well tolerated by patients, and what has proved most diagnostically productive over a 25 year span of preliminary exploration of the technology. In this review, the authors explain the technical and neurochemical aspects of MRS and critically discuss its clinical neuroimaging applications.

KEYWORDS

MRI - spectroscopy - metabolite - N-acetylaspartate - choline - creatine