Oncology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Oncology, including details on cancer, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy.

Clinical role of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in oncology: brain, breast, and prostate cancer.

Kwock L, Smith JK, Castillo M, Ewend MG, Collichio F, Morris DE, Bouldin TW, Cush S

Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. kwock@med.unc.edu

Standardised proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) was initially developed for routine in-situ clinical assessment of human brain tumours, and its use was later extended for examination of prostate and breast cancers. MRSI coupled with both routine and functional MRI techniques provides more detailed information about a tumour's location and extent of its infiltration than any other modality alone. Information obtained by adding MRSI data to anatomical and functional MRI findings aid in clinical management decisions (such as watchful waiting vs immediate intervention). In this Review, we discuss the current status of proton MRSI, with emphasis on its clinical use to map the location and extent of tumour processes for spectroscopic image-guided biopsy procedures and to monitor treatment paradigms for brain, prostate, and breast cancer.

Published 2 October 2006 in Lancet Oncol, 7(10): 859-68.
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