PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Thakur, S.B.
AU  - Karimi, S.
AU  - Dunkel, I.J.
AU  - Koutcher, J.A.
AU  - Huang, W.
TI  - Longitudinal MR Spectroscopic Imaging of Pediatric Diffuse Pontine Tumors to Assess Tumor Aggression and Progression
DP  - 2006 Apr 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 806--809
VI  - 27
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/27/4/806.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/27/4/806.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2006 Apr 01; 27
AB  - SUMMARY: Two pediatric patients with diffuse pontine tumors underwent MR spectroscopic imaging pre- and postradiation. Choline/creatine (Cho/Cr) and Cho/N-acetylaspartate (NAA) ratios were elevated before treatment, with no MR imaging contrast enhancement. These ratios were further elevated at 2 posttreatment follow-up studies, despite signs of excellent clinical improvement at initial follow-up. This study suggests that MR spectroscopic imaging is more specific in assessing the aggressiveness of diffuse pontine tumors than conventional MR imaging and can serve as a valuable tool in early prognostication.