The Association between Whole-Brain MR Spectroscopy and IDH Mutation Status in Gliomas

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) have a direct effect on gliomagenesis. The purpose of this study is to quantify differences in brain metabolites due to IDH mutations. METHODS: Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) was performed in 35 patients with gliomas of different grade and varied IDH mutation status. Volumes of interest (VOIs) for active tumor (tVOI), peritumoral area (pVOI), and contralateral normal-appearing white matter (cVOI) were created. Metabolite ratios of Choline (Cho) to both N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and Creatine (Cr) were estimated. Ratios of Glutamate/Glutamine complex (Glx) and myoinositol (mIno) to Cr were also quantified. General linear models (GLMs) were used to estimate the effects of IDH mutation on metabolite measures, with age, gender, and tumor grade used as covariates. RESULTS: GLM analysis showed that maximum Cho/NAA and Cho/Cr in the tVOI were significantly (P