[In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) in the assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: 1H MRS was performed in normal volunteers and in patients with pathologically confirmed HCC and cholangiocarcinomas using a whole-body 1.5-T scanner. The choline-to-lipid ratios were measured by dividing the peak area of choline at 3.2 ppm and lipid at 1.3 ppm. RESULTS: The ratio of choline-to-lipid for normal liver, cholangiocarcinomas, and HCC were 0.07 +/- 0.04, 0.11 +/- 0.06, and 0.52 +/- 0.15, respectively. The ratio of choline-to-lipid was significantly higher in HCC compared than those in cholangiocarcinomas or normal livers (P < 0.05). However, it was not significantly different between cholangiocarcinomas and normal livers (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In vivo 1H MRS can reflect the pathological changes of HCC and cholangiocarcinomas at metabolic level and thus is useful in the diagnosis of these two cancers.