The importance of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the differential diagnosis of cranial lesions and its correlation with pathology results

OBJECTIVE: Preoperative diagnosis is very important in determining the treatment algorithm in cranial lesions. The aim of this study is to compare the results of magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which is one of the preoperative imaging methods, with the results of pathology and to reveal its effectiveness in diagnosis.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty five patients who underwent preoperative magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging among 75 patients who were operated for cranial lesions in our clinic between 2016 - 2019 were included in the study. N-acetyl aspartate, creatine, choline and lactate values were calculated as biochemical metabolites, and preoperative diagnoses made according to these values were compared with postoperative pathology results and discussed in the light of the literature.RESULTS: A total of 35 patients, 20 male and 15 female, were included in the study. The age range of the patients was between 18 - 82. As a result of magnetic resonance spectroscopy, 29 patients were diagnosed with high grade glial tumors. As a result of the postoperative evaluation, the magnetic resonance spectroscopy results of 27 patients were found to be compatible with the pathology results, while differences were observed in 8 patients. A significant increase in choline peak and choline / NAA ratio was noted in high-grade glial tumors.CONCLUSIONS: There is a high correlation between the preoperative evaluations obtained by magnetic resonance spectroscopy which is used in the differential diagnosis of cranial lesions, and the pathological diagnosis.