In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging and ex vivo quantitative neuropathology by high resolution magic angle spinning proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The applications of two magnetic resonance techniques to the study of brain tumours are discussed. Multivoxel MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) can be performed in vivo in animal models and HRMAS is performed ex vivo. The first one is able to provide molecular images of tumours and the second one gives rich metabolomic information from excised biopsies. The application of both techniques yields a high amount of multidimensional data, which can be analysed with complex statistical methods, such as those provided by pattern recognition techniques.