Evaluation of brain energy metabolism and intracellular pH level using phosphorus (³¹P) MR spectroscopy

Evaluation of brain tumor metabolism is an important issue in brain tumor studies. Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) allows noninvasive examination of metabolic changes occurring in pathologic brain tissue by measuring intracellular pH level based on obtained spectra of phosphorus-containing metabolites involved in cell membrane phospholipids turnover. The purpose of this study was pHmetry of brain tumors using 31P MRS.

The mean pH level of the control group of healthy volunteers (N=23) was 6.963 ± 0.044. Measured PME/PDE=1.17 ± 0.20.

31P MRS demonstrates highly reproducible results opening prospective for comparative studies with the diseased groups (mainly gliomas) and further translation to the clinical practice. (paper)