Proton imaging and phosphorus spectroscopy in a malignant glioma

Since 1980 several papers have detailed the value of ¹H magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the central nervous system as being clinically useful. Recently, Cady et al. used ³¹P MRI to study the cerebral metabolism of newborn infants suffering birth asphyxia, meningitis, congenital abnormalities, and cerebral edema. Bottomley et al. described the first in vivo ³¹P spectra and high-field ¹H MR images in a normal adult volunteer. We now report both ¹H MR images and ³P MR chemical-shift spectroscopic studies in a patient with a malignant glioma of the left temporal parietal lobe undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. The ability to perform both ¹H imaging and in vivo phosphorus spectroscopy with the same instrument with only a 5-10 min changeover delay opens a new avenue in the investigation of neurologic diseases.