TY - JOUR
T1 - Manually Adjusted Versus Vendor-Preset Definition of Metabolite Boundaries. Impact on Proton Metabolite Ratios
AU - Petrou, Myria
AU - Sundgren, Pia C.
AU - Pang, Yuxi
AU - Rohrer, Suzan
AU - Foerster, Bradley
AU - Chenevert, Thomas L.
PY - 2007/3
Y1 - 2007/3
N2 - Rationale and Objectives: Metabolite peak boundary definition is an important postprocessing step in proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). We compare metabolite ratios calculated using three different postprocessing strategies: software-rendered default peak boundaries, manually adjusted peak boundaries and a curve-fitting program. The first two of these methods are commercially available. Materials and Methods: A total of 42 spectra acquired on a 1.5-T MR unit using two-dimensional chemical shift proton MR spectroscopy (TR/TE = 1500/144 ms) were analyzed. Choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) relative concentrations were derived and the following metabolite ratios were calculated: Cho/Cr, Cho/NAA, and NAA/Cr. Metabolite concentrations/ratios were calculated using (a) default peak boundaries rendered by commercially available, postprocessing software (Functool 2000, version 2.6.0); (b) manually adjusted peak boundaries by an experienced spectroscopist, using an option offered by the same commercially available software; and (c) an offline in-house curve-fitting program. Measurements obtained with method (c) were considered as the "gold standard." Paired t-tests comparing default and adjusted metabolite ratios, as well as default and adjusted ratios with their respective curve-fit values were used for statistical analysis. Results: Significant differences between default and manually adjusted values were found for Cho/Cr ratios <1.5 and for all Cho/NAA ratios. For Cho/Cr ratios <1.5, significant differences between default and curve-fit values were present; this was not the case when comparing manually adjusted and curve-fit values. Default and manually adjusted Cho/NAA ratios were significantly higher than corresponding curve-fit ratios. Manually adjusted values were, however, closer to the curve-fit values. No significant differences were noted between default and adjusted NAA/Cr values; default and manually adjusted ratios were significantly lower than curve-fit ratios. Conclusion: There can be significant differences in metabolite ratios calculated using default and manually adjusted peak limits in proton MR spectroscopy. Furthermore, Cho/Cr and NAA/Cho adjusted metabolite ratios are closer to curve-fit values, which are considered the most accurate of the three.
AB - Rationale and Objectives: Metabolite peak boundary definition is an important postprocessing step in proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). We compare metabolite ratios calculated using three different postprocessing strategies: software-rendered default peak boundaries, manually adjusted peak boundaries and a curve-fitting program. The first two of these methods are commercially available. Materials and Methods: A total of 42 spectra acquired on a 1.5-T MR unit using two-dimensional chemical shift proton MR spectroscopy (TR/TE = 1500/144 ms) were analyzed. Choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) relative concentrations were derived and the following metabolite ratios were calculated: Cho/Cr, Cho/NAA, and NAA/Cr. Metabolite concentrations/ratios were calculated using (a) default peak boundaries rendered by commercially available, postprocessing software (Functool 2000, version 2.6.0); (b) manually adjusted peak boundaries by an experienced spectroscopist, using an option offered by the same commercially available software; and (c) an offline in-house curve-fitting program. Measurements obtained with method (c) were considered as the "gold standard." Paired t-tests comparing default and adjusted metabolite ratios, as well as default and adjusted ratios with their respective curve-fit values were used for statistical analysis. Results: Significant differences between default and manually adjusted values were found for Cho/Cr ratios <1.5 and for all Cho/NAA ratios. For Cho/Cr ratios <1.5, significant differences between default and curve-fit values were present; this was not the case when comparing manually adjusted and curve-fit values. Default and manually adjusted Cho/NAA ratios were significantly higher than corresponding curve-fit ratios. Manually adjusted values were, however, closer to the curve-fit values. No significant differences were noted between default and adjusted NAA/Cr values; default and manually adjusted ratios were significantly lower than curve-fit ratios. Conclusion: There can be significant differences in metabolite ratios calculated using default and manually adjusted peak limits in proton MR spectroscopy. Furthermore, Cho/Cr and NAA/Cho adjusted metabolite ratios are closer to curve-fit values, which are considered the most accurate of the three.
KW - metabolite ratios
KW - post-processing
KW - proton MR spectroscopy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33847361811&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33847361811&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.acra.2006.12.011
DO - 10.1016/j.acra.2006.12.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 17307667
AN - SCOPUS:33847361811
SN - 1076-6332
VL - 14
SP - 340
EP - 343
JO - Academic radiology
JF - Academic radiology
IS - 3
ER -