RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Proton MR spectroscopy in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1: evaluation of hamartomas and clinical correlation.
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
SP 141
OP 147
VO 16
IS 1
A1 Castillo, M
A1 Green, C
A1 Kwock, L
A1 Smith, K
A1 Wilson, D
A1 Schiro, S
A1 Greenwood, R
YR 1995
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/16/1/141.abstract
AB PURPOSE To use proton MR spectroscopy in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 to determine: (a) the spectroscopic characteristics of hamartomas and compare them with that of gliomas; (b) whether differences exist between patients with and without learning disabilities; and (c) spectroscopic patterns in normal-appearing brain (by MR imaging) in patients with and without focal lesions. METHODS Seventeen proton MR spectroscopy volumes were obtained in 10 patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (including hamartomas, N = 7; normal-appearing brain, N = 10). Seven patients had learning disorders, and 3 were mentally normal. Ten healthy volunteers and 10 patients with pathologically proved gliomas (all grades) were also examined. N-Acetyl aspartate/creatine, creatine/choline, and N-acetyl aspartate/choline ratios were calculated for all samples. RESULTS (a) Hamartomas showed higher N-acetyl aspartate/creatine, creatine/choline, and N-acetyl aspartate/choline ratios than gliomas. Hamartomas showed N-acetyl aspartate/creatine, creatine/choline, and N-acetyl aspartate/choline ratios similar to those of healthy volunteers. (b) No significant differences in N-acetyl aspartate/creatine, creatine/choline, and N-acetyl aspartate/choline ratios were found in patients who had neurofibromatosis type 1 with and without learning disabilities. (c) N-acetyl aspartate/creatine, creatine/choline, and N-acetyl aspartate/choline ratios were similar for patients who had neurofibromatosis type 1 with and without focal hamartomas and in healthy volunteers. CONCLUSIONS (a) Hamartomas have a proton MR spectroscopy pattern different from that of glioma and similar to that of normal brain. (b) As performed in this study, proton MR spectroscopy did not show significant differences in patients who had neurofibromatosis type 1 with and without learning disabilities. (c) Patients who have neurofibromatosis type 1 with and without hamartomas seem to have normal intervening brain by proton MR spectroscopy when compared with healthy volunteers.