Table 2.
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy: metabolites and diagnostic utility
| Metabolite | Physiology | Diagnostic utility |
|---|---|---|
| Cho | Precursor component of cell membranes and myelin |
(+) cellular proliferation; viral infection; brain tumors (−) hypothermia |
| Cr | Metabolic product of creatine phosphate breakdown during protein metabolism |
(+) metabolic activity; energetic reserve; inflammation (−) pilocytic astrocytoma |
| Gln | Precursor for neuronal synthesis of glutamate | (+) acute hypoxic-ischemia; brain tumors |
| Glu | Excitatory neurotransmitter | (+) brain maturation; epileptic tissue; excitotoxicity |
| Lac | Metabolic product of anaerobic glycolysis | ( +) acute hypoxic-ischemia; brain tumors |
| Lip | Fatty acid component of cell membranes | (+) apoptosis/necrosis |
| mIns | Glial metabolite |
(+) gliosis; astrocytoma (−) brain maturation |
| NAA | Neuronal metabolite |
(+) neuronal integrity; brain maturation (−) acute hypoxic-ischemia; apoptosis/necrosis; acute seizure |
| Suc | TCA cycle intermediate metabolite | (+) infection |
Abbreviations: Cho, Choline; Cr, Creatinine; Gln, Glutamine; Glu, Glutamate; Lac, Lactate; Lip, CH3 (methyl) and CH2 (methylene) group lipid molecules; mIns, myo-inositol, NAA, N-acetylaspartate; Suc, Succinate; TCA, tricarboxylic acid ; (+) increase in metabolite; (−) decrease in metabolite