assistant lecturer of neurosurgery, alexandria, egypt alex neuro 2014
TRANSCRIPT
Assistant Lecturer Of Neurosurgery, Alexandria, Egypt
MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY VERSUS STEREOTACTIC BIOPSY FOR INTRA-AXIAL BRAIN LESIONS
Ahmed Belal
Presented By
Alex Neuro2014
Intra-axial brain lesions could be neoplastic or non-neoplastic. Some non-neoplastic brain lesions can mimic the neoplastic lesions clinically, radiologically and sometimes histopathologically.
And this may lead to misdiagnosis and hence mismanagement.
MRS is usually used as a complement to conventional MRI to improve the diagnosis of intra-axial parenchymal brain lesions
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) is based on the chemical shift properties of the atom. When a tissue is exposed to an external magnetic field, its nuclei will resonate at a frequency (f).
The most common nuclei used for MRS are protons (H1) mainly because of its high sensitivity and abundance.
The Spectrum
The MR spectrum is represented by:(x) axis that corresponds to the metabolite frequency in ppm according to the chemical shift (y) axis that corresponds to the peak amplitude Each metabolite is identified by the position of its peak on a frequency scale (the chemical shift)
The Brain Metabolites
N-acetylaspartate (NAA) :
Peak of NAA is the highest peak assigned at 2.02 ppm.
It is a marker of neuronal and axonal viability and density .
Absence or decreased concentration of NAA is a sign of neuronal loss or degradation
Choline (Cho) :
Its peak is assigned at 3.22 ppm
Cho is a marker of cellular membrane turnover (phospholipids synthesis and degradation) reflecting cellular proliferation
In tumors, Cho levels correlate with degree of malignancy
Creatine (Cr) :
The peak of Cr spectrum is assigned at 3.02 ppm
Cr is a marker of intracellular metabolism.
Concentration of Cr is relatively constant. Therefore it is used as an internal reference for calculating metabolite ratios.
In brain tumors, there is a reduced Cr signal
Lactate (Lac) :
The peak of Lac is a doublet
Lac is a product of anaerobic glycolysis so its concentration increases under anaerobic metabolism such as cerebral ischemia.
Lac also accumulates in tissues with poor washout such as cysts, normal pressure hydrocephalus, necrotic and cystic tumors.
Lipids (Lip)
Lipid peaks can be seen when there is cellular membrane breakdown or necrosis such as in metastases or primary malignant tumors.
Myoinositol (Myo) :
Myo is considered a glial marker because it is primarily synthesized in glial cells, almost only in astrocytes
Elevated Myo occurs with proliferation of glial as found in inflammation , gliosis and in Alzheimer’s disease
Clinical applications of MR spectroscopy
Differentiation between neoplastic and non- neoplastic lesions
The typical MRS spectrum for a brain tumor is one of high level of Cho, low NAA and minor changes in Cr
Cho elevation is usually evidenced by increase in Cho/NAA or Cho/Cr ratios, rather than its absolute concentration
Absence of NAA in an intra-axial tumor generally implies an origin outside of the central nervous system (metastasis) or a highly malignant tumor that has destroyed all neurons in that location.
Grading of cerebral gliomas
Distinguishing between primary brain tumors and metastases
Distinguishing radiation necrosis from tumor recurrence
This study was conducted on 27 patients presented to the Neurosurgery
Department at Alexandria Main University Hospital.
METHODS
All patients were subjected to:
• Complete history taking.
• Full clinical examination.
• Pre-operative investigations:
Routine laboratory investigations.Contrast enhanced Computed Tomography (CT)
scan of the brainContrast enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(MRI) of the brain.Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) of the
lesionEither single or multivoxel MRS was used with short and long TE
• Surgical techniques:
Stereotactic biopsy using Leksell Stereotactic System.
• Histopathological examination
using appropriate stains including immunostains
RESULTS
The preoperative MRS suggested diagnosis was
Neoplastic brain lesions in 15 (56%) cases
Non-neoplastic brain lesions in 12 (44%) cases
Neo-plas-tic
cases56%
Non-Neo-plas-tic
cases44%
0
2
4
6
8
The most common MRS diagnosis was High grade gliomas, 7 cases (26%)
Neoplastic cases63%
Non-neoplas-tic cases
37%
The histopathological diagnosis was Neoplastic lesions in 17 cases (63%)
Non-neoplastic lesions in 10 cases (37%)
The commonest diagnosis following stereotactic biopsy was
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) , (WHO grade IV), 10 cases (37%)
The commonest diagnosis of the non-neoplastic cases was Brain abscess, 3 cases (11%)
Histopathological diagnosisNumber of
casesPercentage
GBM (WHO grade IV) 10 37%
Low grade astrocytoma
(WHO grade I-II)4 15%
Abscess 3 11%
Tumefactive MS 2 7%
Cerebritis 1 4%
Primary CNS Lymphoma (PCNSL)
1 4%
Local tumor recurrence (low grade glioma WHO grade I-II)
1 4%
Metastases (from colonic carcinoma)
1 4%
Infarction 1 4%
Vasculitis 1 4%
Viral encephalitis 1 4%
Total 27 100%
Correlation between the preoperative diagnosis by MRS and Histopathoplogical diagnosis following Stereotactic Biopsy for
Differentiation between Neoplastic and Non-neoplastic brain lesions revealed
Matching In 25 Out Of 27 Cases Sensitivity 88% Specificity 100%
One case was diagnosed by MRS as a Neuroglial cyst but the histopathological diagnosis of the stereotactic biopsy was Cystic astrocytoma.
Another case was diagnosed by MRS as an Abscess but the histopathological diagnosis of the stereotactic biopsy was Glioblastoma multiforme (WHO grade IV).
However, the convential MRI was lacking the DWI/ADC map, which is diagnostic for brain abscess
Correlation between the preoperative diagnosis by MRS and Histopathoplogical diagnosis following Stereotactic Biopsy For Grading of Gliomas (12 cases ) revealed
Matching in 10 out of the 12 cases Sensitivity 89% Specificity 67%
Illustrative Cases
Case 1
Rt thalamic lesion
The MRS shows : Increassed Cho/Cr Increased Cho/NAA Decreased NAA/Cho ratio
Features suggestive of high grade glioma
Histopathological diagnosis was
GBM (WHO IV)
Case 2:
Rt thalamic cystic lesion
The MRS from within the center of the lesion revealed very prominent Lip peak (block arrow) very prominent peak of succinate (long arrow) Small amino acid peak (arrow head) Lac peak (right angle arrow)
Such findings were typical for an anaerobic abscess
A
B
C
E
D
F
Case 3:
Rt lenticular cystic lesion
The initial MRS was in favor of a Neuroglial Cyst. However, after subsequent revision of the MRS findings it revealed
Increased Cho/Cr, Cho/NAA ratiosDecreased NAA/Cho ratio
Features are matching with a Neoplastic lesion
Case 4:
Multiple enhancing brain lesions
The MRS shows Increased Cho/Cr , Cho/NAA ratios Decreased NAA/Cho, NAA/Cr ratios,Lip and Lac peaks are seenDetectable Glx peakmulticentric neoplastic lesion; Primary CNS lymphoma was the prime diagnosis
Case 5:
Bithalamic ill defined lesion
The MRS shows
Preserved NAA and NAA/Cho ratioDecreased NAA/Cr ratioIncreased Cr peakDetectable Lac peak
MRS features of Encephalitis
A
B
C
D
E
Lac
NAACr
Cho
A
B
C
D
E
Lac
NAACr
Cho
Case 6
Multiple lesions
A
B
C
D
E
Lac
NAACr
ChoA
B
C
D
E
Lac
NAACr
Cho
The MRS shows
High Cho/Cr , High Cho/NAA Decreased NAA/ChoLactate Peak Is Prominent (White Arrow) Small Lip Peak was also detected (block Arrow). Normal Spectroscopic findings in the peritumoral region
Overall data were matching with Metastatic Lesions
Case 7:
Lt deep parietal enhancing lesion
The initial MRS was in favor of Brain Abscess. However, after subsequent revision of the MRS findings it revealed
Marked increase in Cho/Cr and Cho/NAA ratios Prominent lip peak
Which were in favor of High Grade Glioma
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) should be part of the routine MRI examination when studying focal lesions and hence should be included in the imaging request.
The interpretation of the Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) findings should be conducted by a specialized radiologist to minimize falacies.
Intra-operative MRS could be used routinely to maximizes tumor resection and to reduces the need for subsequent operations.
THANK YOU