Chemical shift imaging of human brain: axial, sagittal, and coronal P-31 metabolite images

Article Abstract:

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MR) is a technique by which the levels of a particular compound can be measured based on its unique magnetic properties. It is a potentially valuable tool for medical testing since it can be used to gain biochemical knowledge within tissues of the body without having to disturb the tissues. One major problem has been developing MR techniques that can compare biochemical data from different areas within the tissue being studied. Phosphorus-31 (P-31) MR measures phosphorus metabolism in tissues. This is an important measurement in studying brain tumors. One common technique used now for such measurements is image-selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS), which can measure data from a single voxel (a minimal three-dimensional picture element) in a given tissue, thus limiting the ability to make comparisons with other areas within the tissue. A newly developed technique, known as three-dimensional chemical shift imaging, is examined in this study. It can measure data from up to 1,152 voxels (of virtually any polygonic shape) at the same time, thus allowing for comparisons from different areas within the tissue being examined. Six volunteers were studied using this experimental technique to measure P-31 metabolism in their brains. Axial (through the width), sagittal (lengthwise to split in half) and coronal (split front to back) planes were examined. The data was also compared to corresponding data using hydrogen-1 MR to test how well the P-31 data corresponded to the actual anatomy from which it was obtained. Results indicated that this technique resulted in good quality images that demonstrated clearly defined areas of the brain and that correlated excellently with the anatomy from which they were obtained. These results indicate that 3-D chemical shift imaging has great potential as a technique to measure P-31 metabolism within different areas of a given tissue or tissues at the same time and could be of great use in examinations of the brain. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Innovations, Brain

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Assessment of brain death in children by means of P-31 MR spectroscopy: preliminary note

Article Abstract:

Determination of brain death is extremely important in today's world of advanced medical technology. Breathing and blood circulation, as well as other basic bodily functions, can be maintained artificially for long periods of time. Judging when death occurs is becoming more dependent upon the determination of brain death. Criteria have been established for determining when brain death occurs in adults, but not in children. Children's brains can recover functioning that adult brains can not. Invasive techniques can make such determinations, but they are quite dangerous in children who are near death. This study examined the use of P-31 magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy to assess brain death. This is a noninvasive technique that measures phosphorous metabolism in the brain, based on the unique magnetic properties of elements. Phosphorous metabolism is required in a living brain. Twenty-four patients, including 3 infants, 4 children, and 17 adults who had met the criteria for brain death in adults, were examined with P-31 MR spectroscopy. Results showed that, in the 21 children and adults examined, MR peaks were not detected for 7 phosphorous-containing substances which are high in normal brains; a single peak (monopeak) was observed. These findings were also noted in two of the three infants. Cardiac death soon followed in the 23 patients with these findings on P-31 MR spectroscopy. The third infant showed some normal peaks, although the adult criteria for brain death had been met. This infant continued to live and, instead of brain death, a persistent vegetative state was diagnosed. These results indicate that P-31 MR spectroscopy may be useful in determining brain death in young children and infants. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Diagnosis, Death, Brain death, Certification

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