Levels of choline-containing compounds in normal liver and liver metastases of colorectal cancer as recorded by 1 H MRS

• Published in: NMR in biomedicine 2019-01, Vol.32 (1), p.e4035-e4035
• Main Authors: Ter Voert, Edwin E G W, Heijmen, Linda, van Asten, Jack J A, Wright, Alan J, Nagtegaal, Iris D, Punt, Cornelis J A, de Wilt, Johannes H W, van Laarhoven, Hanneke W M, Heerschap, Arend
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Choline - metabolism; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Humans; Liver - metabolism; Liver Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Liver Neoplasms - secondary; Metabolome; Middle Aged; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Quality Control; Reproducibility of Results
• ISSN: 0952-3480; 1099-1492
• DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4035

A relatively high signal for choline-containing compounds (total choline, tCho) is commonly found in H MR spectra of malignant tumors, but it is unclear if this also occurs in tumors in the liver. We evaluated the potential of the tCho signal in single voxel H MR spectra of the human liver to assess metastases of colorectal cancers. MR spectra of an 8 cm PRESS-localized voxel were obtained at 3 T from the livers of 12 healthy volunteers and from metastatic lesions in 20 patients in two different sessions. To correct for motion artifacts, sequentially recorded spectra were individually phased and frequency aligned before averaging. Spectra were analyzed using LCModel and tissue levels estimated by water referencing. Repeatability was assessed with Bland-Altman analyses. To estimate tumor necrosis, diffusion-weighted imaging of the liver was performed. High resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) spectra of tumor and normal liver samples were obtained at 11.7 T. With increasing tumor volumes, tCho levels decreased, indicating a partial volume effect. Mean tCho content in tumors larger than the PRESS voxel (>8 cm ) was significantly lower (p