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MRI and MRS of Human Brain Tumors

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Tumor Biomarker Discovery

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 520))

Summary

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an introduction to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of human brain tumors, including the primary applications and basic terminology involved. Readers who wish to know more about this broad subject should seek out the referenced books (1. Tofts (2003) Quantitative MRI of the brain. Measuring changes caused by disease. Wiley; Bradley and Stark (1999) 2. Magnetic resonance imaging, 3rd Edition. Mosby Inc; Brown and Semelka (2003) 3. MRI basic principles and applications, 3rd Edition. Wiley-Liss) or reviews (4. Top Magn Reson Imaging 17:127–36, 2006; 5. JMRI 24:709–724, 2006; 6. Am J Neuroradiol 27:1404–1411, 2006).

MRI is the most popular means of diagnosing human brain tumors. The inherent difference in the magnetic resonance (MR) properties of water between normal tissues and tumors results in contrast differences on the image that provide the basis for distinguishing tumors from normal tissues. In contrast to MRI, which provides spatial maps or images using water signals of the tissues, proton MRS detects signals of tissue metabolites. MRS can complement MRI because the observed MRS peaks can be linked to inherent differences in biochemical profiles between normal tissues and tumors.

The goal of MRI and MRS is to characterize brain tumors, including tumor core, edge, edema, volume, types, and grade. The commonly used brain tumor MRI protocol includes T2-weighted images and T1-weighted images taken both before and after the injection of a contrast agent (typically gadolinium: Gd). The commonly used MRS technique is either point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) or stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medical Physics and Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Bob L. Hou

  2. Department of Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

    Jiani Hu

Authors
  1. Bob L. Hou
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  2. Jiani Hu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiani Hu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine , Wayne State University, E. Warren Ave. 110, Detroit, 48201, U.S.A.

    Michael A. Tainsky

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© 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Hou, B.L., Hu, J. (2009). MRI and MRS of Human Brain Tumors. In: Tainsky, M. (eds) Tumor Biomarker Discovery. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 520. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-811-9_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-811-9_21

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-810-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-811-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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