BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been successful in characterising a range of brain tumours and is a useful aid to non-invasive diagnosis. The pineal region poses considerable surgical challenges and a major surgical resection is not required in the management of all tumours. Improved non-invasive assessment of pineal region tumours would be of considerable benefit. METHODS: Single voxel MRS (TE 30 ms, TR 1500, 1.5 T) was performed on 15 pineal tumours: 5 germinomas, 1 non-germinomatous secreting germ cell tumour (GCT), 2 teratomas, 5 pineoblastomas, 1 pineal parenchymal tumour (PPT) of intermediate differentiation and 1 pineocytoma. Two germinomas outside the pineal gland were also studied. Metabolite, lipid and macromolecule concentrations were determined with LCModel™. RESULTS: Germ cell tumours had significantly higher lipid and macromolecule concentrations than other tumours (t-test; P < 0.05). The teratomas had significantly lower total choline and creatine levels than germinomas (z test; P < 0.05). Taurine was convincingly detected in germinomas as well as PPTs. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is useful for characterising pineal region tumours, aiding the non-invasive diagnosis and giving additional biological insight.
BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been successful in characterising a range of brain tumours and is a useful aid to non-invasive diagnosis. The pineal region poses considerable surgical challenges and a major surgical resection is not required in the management of all tumours. Improved non-invasive assessment of pineal region tumours would be of considerable benefit. METHODS: Single voxel MRS (TE 30 ms, TR 1500, 1.5 T) was performed on 15 pineal tumours: 5 germinomas, 1 non-germinomatous secreting germ cell tumour (GCT), 2 teratomas, 5 pineoblastomas, 1 pineal parenchymal tumour (PPT) of intermediate differentiation and 1 pineocytoma. Two germinomas outside the pineal gland were also studied. Metabolite, lipid and macromolecule concentrations were determined with LCModel™. RESULTS: Germ cell tumours had significantly higher lipid and macromolecule concentrations than other tumours (t-test; P < 0.05). The teratomas had significantly lower total choline and creatine levels than germinomas (z test; P < 0.05). Taurine was convincingly detected in germinomas as well as PPTs. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is useful for characterising pineal region tumours, aiding the non-invasive diagnosis and giving additional biological insight.
Authors: Niloufar Zarinabad; Martin Wilson; Simrandip K Gill; Karen A Manias; Nigel P Davies; Andrew C Peet Journal: Magn Reson Med Date: 2016-07-12 Impact factor: 4.668
Authors: Niloufar Zarinabad; Laurence J Abernethy; Shivaram Avula; Nigel P Davies; Daniel Rodriguez Gutierrez; Tim Jaspan; Lesley MacPherson; Dipayan Mitra; Heather E L Rose; Martin Wilson; Paul S Morgan; Simon Bailey; Barry Pizer; Theodoros N Arvanitis; Richard G Grundy; Dorothee P Auer; Andrew Peet Journal: Magn Reson Med Date: 2017-08-08 Impact factor: 4.668