Quantitative proton MRS of brain tumors reveals increased cholineT 2 in meningiomas

Quantitative proton spectroscopy was performed on 26 volunteers and 9 patients using STEAM. Voxels (8 ml) were localized within white matter or meningioma and water-suppressed spectra acquired with TR=2 s at three echo times. Concentrations were calculated using individual relaxation parameter values with tissue water as an internal reference. Compared to white matter, meningiomas were characterized by an increased choline/creatine ratio, the absence ofN-acetylasparate, and the presence of alanine. Further, theT₂ of choline and its concentration were both significantly greater in meningiomas than white matter (p<0.01). Thus, the high choline/creatine ratio seen in meningioma spectra is the consequence of a greater concentration and a longerT₂. The longerT₂ may reflect differences in the relative proportions of choline-containing compounds. Our data demonstrate that individual measurements of relaxation parameters are important for long echo spectra and may reveal important metabolic information.