Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in posterior fossa tumours: the tumour spectroscopic signature may improve discrimination in adults among haemangioblastoma, ependymal tumours, medulloblastoma, and metastasis

Paloma Mora, Albert Pons, Mónica Cos, Angels Camins, Amadeo Muntané, Carles Aguilera, Carles Arús, Carles Majós

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearch

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

© 2018, European Society of Radiology. Objectives: Assessing a posterior fossa tumour in an adult can be challenging. Metastasis, haemangioblastoma, ependymal tumours, and medulloblastoma are the most common diagnostic possibilities. Our aim was to evaluate the contribution of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the diagnosis of these entities. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 56 consecutive patients with a posterior fossa tumour and histological diagnosis of ependymal tumour, medulloblastoma, haemangioblastoma, and metastasis in which good-quality spectra at short (TE 30 ms) or/and intermediate (TE, 136 ms) TE were available. Spectra were compared using the Mann-Whitney U non-parametric test in order to select the spectral datapoints and the intensity ratios that showed significant differences between groups of lesions. Performance of these datapoints and their ratios were assessed with ROC curves. Results: The most characteristic signatures on spectroscopy were high choline (Cho) in medulloblastoma (p < 0.001), high myoinositol (mIns) in ependymal tumours (p < 0.05), and high lipids (LIP) in haemangioblastoma (p < 0.01) and metastasis (p < 0.01). Selected ratios between normalised intensity signals of resonances provided accuracy values between 79 and 95% for pairwise comparisons. Intensity ratio NI 3.21ppm/3.55ppm provided satisfactory discrimination between medulloblastoma and ependymal tumours (accuracy, 92%), ratio NI 2.11ppm/1.10ppm discriminated ependymal tumours from haemangioblastoma (accuracy, 94%), ratio NI 3.21ppm/1.13ppm discriminated haemangioblastoma from medulloblastoma (accuracy, 95%), and ratio NI 1.28ppm/2.02pmm discriminated haemangioblastoma from metastasis (accuracy, 83%). Conclusions: MRS may improve the non-invasive diagnosis of posterior fossa tumours in adults. Key Points: • High choline suggests a medulloblastoma in a posterior fossa tumour. • High myoinositol suggests an ependymal lesion in a posterior fossa tumour. • High lipids suggest a metastasis or a haemangioblastoma in a posterior fossa tumour.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2792-2801
JournalEuropean Radiology
Volume29
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2019

Keywords

  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Magnetic resonance spectroscopy
  • Neoplasm metastasis
  • Posterior fossa tumours
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Medulloblastoma/diagnosis
  • Inositol/metabolism
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods
  • Male
  • Young Adult
  • Choline/metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/methods
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Hemangioblastoma/diagnosis
  • Infratentorial Neoplasms/diagnosis
  • Adult
  • Female
  • ROC Curve
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism

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