Abstract #1998

Hosch W, Hull W, Kauffmann G, Junghanss T

Our pilot study examined 16 samples of cyst fluid obtained from 13 patients bearing hydatid cysts of the parasite Echinococcus granulosus (canine band worm). 1H-MRS at 600 MHz allowed several amino acids, lactate, acetate, formate, succinate, citrate, malate, fumarate, glucose, myo-inositol, betaine, and choline metabolites to be identified and quantified as metabolite/valine ratios. Cysts classified as active or fertile (n = 10) exhibited high ratios for succinate, acetate and malate, as well as detectable fumarate. In inactive, sterile cysts (n = 5), these ratios decreased dramatically (p < 0.002), suggesting a high diagnostic potential for these parameters.