Jan Novak1,
2, Martin Wilson1, 2, Nigel Davies1,
2, Theodoros N. Arvanitis, 23, Andrew C. Peet1,
2
1Cancer
Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, West Midlands, United
Kingdom; 2Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, West
Midlands, United Kingdom; 3School of Electronic, Electrical and
Computer Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, West Midlands,
United Kingdom
A 31P MRSI protocol has been developed using both phantoms and volunteers for the study of paediatric brain tumours in a clinically-acceptable timescale. This protocol was sensitive enough to pick up subtle differences in metabolite levels in different regions of the brain. The protocol has subsequently been implemented in paediatric patients with optic pathway gliomas with the data showing a low phosphocholine/glycerophosphocholine ratio. This is a potential biomarker indicating low grade nature despite the lesions being large enhancing tumours with a high total choline peak measured by 1H MRS, which are usually associate with high grade tumours.