Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Abstract

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is an established, non-invasive imaging technique for quantifying regional tissue biochemistry. It forms a valuable technique for the research and clinical evaluation of various neurological diseases. This chapter introduces the modality, describes typically evaluated metabolites, outlines evidence-based clinical applications and ends with a case description. Our aim is to provide the reader with an understanding of the current roles and limitations of spectroscopy in neuroimaging and provide a base from which to begin interpreting proton spectra. The focus is on clinical applications that have robust evidence supporting the use of spectroscopy, provided by systematic reviews and meta-analyses where available. We have focused this chapter on proton spectroscopy (H-MRS) because it is the most widely available, validated spectroscopy technique, and does not require any additional hardware beyond what is already being used for structural MRI.