Finding the right tests…
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Finding the right tests…
MRI
MR spectroscopy (MRS) is done on the same scanner as a standard MRI, but instead of a picture, it produces a chemical profile of the tissue being studied, usually a suspicious area in the brain. It measures levels of metabolites such as choline, N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), creatine, and lactate, which shift in characteristic ways when tissue is affected by a tumor. Doctors add MRS onto a structural brain MRI, not in place of it, to help judge whether an abnormal area is more likely to be tumor, and how aggressive that tumor might be, or to help tell tumor regrowth apart from tissue changed by earlier radiation treatment.
MRS reports metabolite levels and ratios, commonly choline, NAA, creatine, and lactate, for the area scanned, compared with normal tissue. Your doctor uses these ratios alongside the structural MRI images and your clinical picture, since MRS results alone are not a diagnosis.
Regular MRI shows the shape and location of a tumor. MRS goes a layer deeper and looks at the chemical makeup of the tissue itself, sometimes called a virtual biopsy, because it can offer clues about tissue type without cutting into the body.
- High choline can point to more actively dividing cells, which is common in tumors - Falling NAA suggests loss of normal, healthy brain tissue in that area - Lactate can appear when tissue isn't getting enough oxygen - The pattern of these changes together, not any single number, helps characterize what's in that spot
MRS is almost always read together with a structural MRI and, when needed, other tests. It can help distinguish a high-grade tumor from a low-grade one, tell apart different types of brain lesions that can look similar on a standard scan, and help sort out whether an area that looks abnormal after treatment is scar tissue from radiation or a tumor that has come back. Because different conditions can show overlapping chemical patterns, MRS findings are one piece of the picture your doctor puts together, not a stand-alone answer.
No, it's usually added onto the same MRI session using the same scanner. It just takes extra time because it captures chemical information instead of another picture.
It measures the levels of certain chemicals, called metabolites, in the tissue being scanned. Changes in these chemical levels can point toward or away from a tumor and give clues about how aggressive it might be.
No. MRS results are interpreted together with the structural MRI images and your overall clinical picture, and a tissue biopsy is often still needed to confirm a diagnosis.
A standard MRI shows the shape and location of an abnormal area, but not what it's made of. MRS adds chemical information that can help characterize that area further.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
No. Like standard MRI, it uses magnetic fields and radio waves, not X-rays.
It adds time to your existing MRI appointment, though exactly how much depends on your protocol. Ask your doctor or the centre for a time estimate.
Brain tumors are the most common reason it's ordered. It can also be used to study certain other neurological and metabolic conditions affecting the brain.