Proton MR spectroscopy of squamous cell carcinoma of the extracranial head and neck: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To determine the ability of in vitro one-dimensional and two-dimensional proton MR spectroscopy to help differentiate squamous cell carcinoma of the extracranial head and neck from normal tissues and to correlate the in vitro observations with clinical studies.

METHODS:

In vitro 1-D and 2-D correlated proton MR spectroscopy (11 T) was performed in tissue specimens of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (n = 19), in normal tissue (n = 13), in metastatic cervical lymph nodes (n = 3), and in a squamous cell carcinoma cell line. In vivo 1-D proton MR spectroscopy (1.5 T) was performed in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (n = 7) and in healthy volunteers (n = 7). The ratio of the areas under the choline (Cho) and creatine (Cr) resonances were calculated for 1-D proton MR spectra for the in vitro tissue studies and correlated with the in vivo studies. Data from in vitro 2-D correlated spectroscopy were analyzed for differences in the presence or absence of various metabolites in samples of tumor and normal tissue. Statistical analysis consisted of 2 x 2 factorial repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), discriminate analysis, and chi2 test.

RESULTS:

The mean in vitro 1-D proton MR spectroscopic Cho/Cr ratio was significantly higher in tumor than in normal tissue. The difference between the mean ratios appeared to increase with increasing echo time. All in vivo tumor Cho/Cr ratios were greater than the calculated mean in vitro tumor ratio, whereas six of the seven volunteers had no detectable Cho and Cr resonances. Two-dimensional correlated MR spectroscopic data revealed that a variety of amino acids have a significantly greater likelihood of being detected in tumor than in normal tissues.

CONCLUSIONS:

One-dimensional and 2-D proton MR spectroscopy can help differentiate primary squamous cell carcinoma and nodal metastases containing squamous cell carcinoma from normal tissue both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, 2-D spectroscopy can help identify the presence of certain amino acids in squamous cell carcinoma that are not detected in normal tissue.

• Authors: S K Mukherji, S Schiro, M Castillo, L Kwock, K E Muller, W Blackstock
• Journal: AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology (AJNR Am J Neuroradiol) 1997 Jun-Jul Vol. 18 Issue 6 Pg. 1057-72 ISSN: 0195-6108 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9194433 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Creatine
• Choline

Topics

• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (diagnosis, physiopathology)
• Cell Line
• Choline (metabolism)
• Creatine (metabolism)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Energy Metabolism (physiology)
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (diagnosis, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Image Processing, Computer-Assisted (instrumentation)
• In Vitro Techniques
• Lymph Nodes (physiopathology)
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (instrumentation)
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (instrumentation)
• Reference Values