13C MR imaging of methionine-rich gliomas at 4.7T: A pilot study

Abstract

We explored the feasibility of using carbon-13 ( 13C) magnetic resonance imaging ( 13C-MRI) to depict 13C-labeled methionine-enriched gliomas at 4.7 tesla. We transplanted 2 types of glioma cells separately to 2 subcutaneous tissue sites on the backs of mice weighing 15 to 20 g. After confirming tumor growth, we used 13C-MRI and 1H-MRI to scan 4 mice that had been administered 13C-labeled methionine and 2 control mice. 13C-MRI of all 4 transplanted mice administered with 13C-labeled methionine revealed 2 areas of hyperinten-sity that corresponded to the tumor sites on 1H-MR images, but no such areas were visualized in transplanted controls. Our data suggest that 13C-MRI can show the accumulation of 13C-labeled tracer by gliomas.