Metabolic Imaging Of Musculoskeletal Pathology With MR Spectroscopy: How Far Have We Come?
) Background Information: Proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) is a means of metabolic imaging with MR that is in its infancy with respect to the musculoskeletal system. With MRS, metabolite content within an area of interest can be determined noninvasively, providing a quantitative tool for studying the sources of physiologic and pathologic variability in musculoskeletal tissues. A number of recent advances in this technique have emerged. This exhibit will review the origin of metabolic imaging in the musculoskeletal system along with recent technical advances in MRS, such as the development of relative and absolute quantification schemes for assessing metabolite content. Educational Goals/Teaching Points: 1) Although many metabolites may be used in performing MRS, proton MRS is most easily integrated into an MRI examination and produces the highest signal to noise. 2) With proton MRS, the metabolite footprint in a region of interest is obtained and can be used to characterize disease or asse
