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Akciğer ve Meme Kanserinin Beyin Metastazlarında Manyetik Rezonans Spektroskopi Görüntüleme Bulguları ve Farklılıkları

Year 2026, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 9 - 15, 25.02.2026
https://doi.org/10.70852/tmj.1824767
https://izlik.org/JA24SU72CY

Abstract

Amaç: İntrakraniyal neoplazmların en sık nedeni metastazlardır ve büyük çoğunluğu meme ve akciğer kaynaklı vakalarda görülmektedir. Primer onkolojik hastalığın bilinmediği durumlarda, en uygun tedavi stratejilerini uygulamak için çeşitli beyin metastazları arasında ayrım yapmak büyük önem taşımaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, meme kanseri beyin metastazları (MKBM) ve akciğer adenokarsinomu beyin metastazlarının (AKBM) Manyetik Rezonans Spektroskopi (MRS) bulgularını sunmak ve karşılaştırmaktır.

Yöntem: Bu retrospektif çalışmaya, Aralık 2022 ile Şubat 2024 tarihleri arasında MRS uygulanan, histopatolojik olarak doğrulanmış meme kanseri veya akciğer adenokarsinomu ile bilinen beyin metastazı olan yetişkin hastalar ardışık olarak dahil edildi. Histopatolojik doğrulaması olmayan, artefaktlar nedeniyle tanısal olmayan MRS sonuçları olan veya MRS öncesinde kraniyal radyoterapi almış hastalar çalışma dışı bırakıldı. Kolin (Cho), kreatin (Cr), N-asetilaspartat (NAA), lipit-laktat (LL) ve myo-inositol (MI) düzeyleri ile Cho/Cr, Cho/NAA ve NAA/Cr oranları, en büyük metastatik lezyonun solid bileşenlerinden elde edildi. Sürekli değişkenler Shapiro-Wilk testi kullanılarak normallik açısından değerlendirildi ve uygun olduğu şekilde Welch t-testi veya Mann-Whitney U testi kullanılarak karşılaştırıldı. Cinsiyet dağılımı Fisher’in kesin testi kullanılarak karşılaştırıldı.

Bulgular: Otuz üç hasta (17 kadın, 16 erkek; ortalama yaş 57,8 ± 13,3 yıl) dahil edilme kriterlerini karşıladı; bunların 15’i MKBM, 18’i AKBM tanısı almış hastalardı. Her iki grupta da yüksek Cho düzeyleri ve artmış Cho/Cr ve Cho/NAA oranları gözlendi. Cho/Cr oranı MKBM grubunda AKBM grubuna göre daha yüksekti; ancak bu fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değildi (p = 0,059). Cho/NAA veya NAA/Cr oranlarında anlamlı bir fark gözlenmedi. Gruplar arasında cinsiyet dağılımında anlamlı bir fark gözlendi; tüm MKBM hastaları kadın iken, AKBM grubunda erkek hastalar çoğunluktaydı (p = 0,00002).

Tartışma: Bu çalışma ile beyin metastazlarında yapılan proton MRS görüntülemelerinde, Cho seviyeleri ile Cho/Cr ve Cho/NAA oranlarında artış bulunduğu saptanmış olup bu bulgu hücre yenilenme hızının yükseldiğine işaret etmektedir. İstatistiksel anlamlılık olmamakla birlikte, AKBM’lerin MKBM’lere kıyasla daha düşük Cho/Cr oranları göstermesi, bu konuda prospektif ve geniş ölçekli çalışmalar yapılmasının gerekliliğini öngörmektedir.

References

  • Al-Okaili RN, Krejza J, Wang S, Woo JH, Melhem ER. Advanced MR imaging techniques in the diagnosis of intraaxial brain tumors in adults. Radiographics. 2006 Oct;26 Suppl 1:S173-89. doi: 10.1148/rg.26si065513. PMID: 17050514.
  • Caivano R, Lotumolo A, Rabasco P, Zandolino A, D’Antuono F, Villonio A, Lancellotti MI, Macarini L, Cammarota A. 3 Tesla magnetic resonance spectroscopy: cerebral gliomas vs. metastatic brain tumors. Our experience and review of the literature. Int J Neurosci. 2013 Aug;123(8):537-43. doi: 10.3109/00207454.2013.774395. Epub 2013 Mar 11. PMID: 23390934.
  • Chuang MT, Liu YS, Tsai YS, Chen YC, Wang CK. Differentiating Radiation-Induced Necrosis from Recurrent Brain Tumor Using MR Perfusion and Spectroscopy: A Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2016 Jan 7;11(1):e0141438. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141438. PMID: 26741961; PMCID: PMC4712150.
  • Derks SHE, van der Veldt AAM, Smits M. Brain metastases: the role of clinical imaging. Br J Radiol. 2022 Feb 1;95(1130):20210944. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20210944. Epub 2021 Dec 14. PMID: 34808072; PMCID: PMC8822566.
  • Fink KR, Fink JR. Imaging of brain metastases. Surg Neurol Int. 2013 May 2;4(Suppl 4):S209-19. doi: 10.4103/2152-7806.111298. PMID: 23717792; PMCID: PMC3656556.
  • Horská A, Barker PB. Imaging of brain tumors: MR spectroscopy and metabolic imaging. Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2010 Aug;20(3):293-310. doi: 10.1016/j.nic.2010.04.003. PMID: 20708548; PMCID: PMC2927327.
  • Huang BY, Kwock L, Castillo M, Smith JK. Association of choline levels and tumor perfusion in brain metastases assessed with proton MR spectroscopy and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced perfusion weighted MRI. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2010 Aug;9(4):327-37. doi: 10.1177/153303461000900403. PMID: 20626199.
  • Ishimaru H, Morikawa M, Iwanaga S, Kaminogo M, Ochi M, Hayashi K. Differentiation between high-grade glioma and metastatic brain tumor using single-voxel proton MR spectroscopy. Eur Radiol. 2001;11(9):1784-91. doi: 10.1007/s003300000814. PMID: 11511902.
  • Law M, Cha S, Knopp EA, Johnson G, Arnett J, Litt AW. High-grade gliomas and solitary metastases: differentiation by using perfusion and proton spectroscopic MR imaging. Radiology. 2002 Mar;222(3):715- 21. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2223010558. PMID: 11867790.
  • Mohammadi M, Mohammadi S, Hadizadeh H, Olfati M, Moradi F, Tanzifi G, Ghaderi S. Brain metastases from breast cancer using magnetic resonance imaging: A systematic review. J Med Radiat Sci. 2024 Mar;71(1):133-141. doi: 10.1002/jmrs.715. Epub 2023 Aug 10. PMID: 37563948; PMCID: PMC10920938.
  • Nowosilski M, Radbruch A. The emerging role of advanced neuroimaging techniques for brain metastases. Chin Clin Oncol. 2015 Jun;4(2):23. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2304-3865.2015.05.04. PMID: 26112809.
  • Pinker K, Stadlbauer A, Bogner W, Gruber S, Helbich TH. Molecular imaging of cancer: MR spectroscopy and beyond. Eur J Radiol. 2012 Mar;81(3):566-77. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2010.04.028. Epub 2010 Jun 4. PMID: 20554145.
  • Sawlani V, Davies N, Patel M, Flintham R, Fong C, Heyes G, Cruickshank G, Steven N, Peet A, Hartley A, Benghiat H, Meade S, Sanghera P. Evaluation of Response to Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Brain Metastases Using Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging and a Review of the Literature. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2019 Jan;31(1):41-49. doi: 10.1016/j.clon.2018.09.003. Epub 2018 Sep 28. PMID: 30274767.
  • Server A, Josefsen R, Kulle B, Maehlen J, Schellhorn T, Gadmar Ø, Kumar T, Haakonsen M, Langberg CW, Nakstad PH. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the distinction of high-grade cerebral gliomas from single metastatic brain tumors. Acta Radiol. 2010 Apr;51(3):316-25. doi: 10.3109/02841850903482901. PMID: 20092374.
  • Tong E, McCullagh KL, Iv M. Advanced Imaging of Brain Metastases: From Augmenting Visualization and Improving Diagnosis to Evaluating Treatment Response. Front Neurol. 2020 Apr 15;11:270. doi: 10.3389/ fneur.2020.00270. PMID: 32351445; PMCID: PMC7174761.
  • van der Graaf M. In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy: basic methodology and clinical applications. Eur Biophys J. 2010 Mar;39(4):527-40. doi: 10.1007/s00249-009-0517-y. Epub 2009 Aug 13. PMID: 19680645; PMCID: PMC2841275.
  • Zakaria R, Das K, Bhojak M, Radon M, Walker C, Jenkinson MD. The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the management of brain metastases: diagnosis to prognosis. Cancer Imaging. 2014 Apr 22;14(1):8. doi: 10.1186/1470-7330-14-8. PMID: 25608557; PMCID: PMC4331840.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Findings and Differences in Brain Metastases of Lung and Breast Cancer

Year 2026, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 9 - 15, 25.02.2026
https://doi.org/10.70852/tmj.1824767
https://izlik.org/JA24SU72CY

Abstract

Objective: The most common diagnoses of intracranial neoplasms are metastases, with the highest incidences observed in cases originating from the breast and lung. In cases where the primary oncological disease is unknown, it is crucial to distinguish between different types of brain metastases in order to implement the most appropriate treatment strategies. The objective of this study is to present and compare the magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) findings of breast cancer brain metastases (BCBMs) and lung adenocarcinoma brain metastases (LACBMs).

Method: In this retrospective study, adult patients with histopathologically confirmed breast carcinoma or lung adenocarcinoma and known brain metastases who underwent MRS between December 2022 and February 2024 were consecutively included. Patients without histopathological confirmation, with nondiagnostic MRS due to artifacts, or who had received cranial radiotherapy before MRS were excluded. Choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), N-acetylaspartate (NAA), lipid–lactate (LL), and myo-inositol (MI) levels, as well as Cho/Cr, Cho/NAA, and NAA/Cr ratios, were obtained from the solid components of the largest metastatic lesion. Continuous variables were assessed for normality using the Shapiro–Wilk test and compared using Welch’s t-test or the Mann–Whitney U test, as appropriate. Gender distribution was compared using Fisher’s exact test.

Results: Thirty-three patients (17 women, 16 men; mean age 57.8 ± 13.3 years) met the inclusion criteria, including 15 patients with BCBMs and 18 with LACBMs. Both groups demonstrated elevated Cho levels and increased Cho/Cr and Cho/NAA ratios. The Cho/Cr ratio was higher in the BCBM group than in the LACBM group; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.059). No significant differences were observed for Cho/NAA or NAA/Cr ratios. A significant difference in gender distribution was observed between groups, with all BCBM patients being female and a predominance of male patients in the LACBM group (p = 0.00002).

Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that proton MRS imaging findings show increased Cho levels and Cho/Cr and Cho/NAA ratios, indicating elevated rates of cell membrane turnover. While the findings did not attain statistical significance, the observation that LACBMs exhibited lower Cho/Cr ratios compared to BCBMs prompts the recommendation for the execution of prospective, large-scale studies on this subject.

References

  • Al-Okaili RN, Krejza J, Wang S, Woo JH, Melhem ER. Advanced MR imaging techniques in the diagnosis of intraaxial brain tumors in adults. Radiographics. 2006 Oct;26 Suppl 1:S173-89. doi: 10.1148/rg.26si065513. PMID: 17050514.
  • Caivano R, Lotumolo A, Rabasco P, Zandolino A, D’Antuono F, Villonio A, Lancellotti MI, Macarini L, Cammarota A. 3 Tesla magnetic resonance spectroscopy: cerebral gliomas vs. metastatic brain tumors. Our experience and review of the literature. Int J Neurosci. 2013 Aug;123(8):537-43. doi: 10.3109/00207454.2013.774395. Epub 2013 Mar 11. PMID: 23390934.
  • Chuang MT, Liu YS, Tsai YS, Chen YC, Wang CK. Differentiating Radiation-Induced Necrosis from Recurrent Brain Tumor Using MR Perfusion and Spectroscopy: A Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2016 Jan 7;11(1):e0141438. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141438. PMID: 26741961; PMCID: PMC4712150.
  • Derks SHE, van der Veldt AAM, Smits M. Brain metastases: the role of clinical imaging. Br J Radiol. 2022 Feb 1;95(1130):20210944. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20210944. Epub 2021 Dec 14. PMID: 34808072; PMCID: PMC8822566.
  • Fink KR, Fink JR. Imaging of brain metastases. Surg Neurol Int. 2013 May 2;4(Suppl 4):S209-19. doi: 10.4103/2152-7806.111298. PMID: 23717792; PMCID: PMC3656556.
  • Horská A, Barker PB. Imaging of brain tumors: MR spectroscopy and metabolic imaging. Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2010 Aug;20(3):293-310. doi: 10.1016/j.nic.2010.04.003. PMID: 20708548; PMCID: PMC2927327.
  • Huang BY, Kwock L, Castillo M, Smith JK. Association of choline levels and tumor perfusion in brain metastases assessed with proton MR spectroscopy and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced perfusion weighted MRI. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2010 Aug;9(4):327-37. doi: 10.1177/153303461000900403. PMID: 20626199.
  • Ishimaru H, Morikawa M, Iwanaga S, Kaminogo M, Ochi M, Hayashi K. Differentiation between high-grade glioma and metastatic brain tumor using single-voxel proton MR spectroscopy. Eur Radiol. 2001;11(9):1784-91. doi: 10.1007/s003300000814. PMID: 11511902.
  • Law M, Cha S, Knopp EA, Johnson G, Arnett J, Litt AW. High-grade gliomas and solitary metastases: differentiation by using perfusion and proton spectroscopic MR imaging. Radiology. 2002 Mar;222(3):715- 21. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2223010558. PMID: 11867790.
  • Mohammadi M, Mohammadi S, Hadizadeh H, Olfati M, Moradi F, Tanzifi G, Ghaderi S. Brain metastases from breast cancer using magnetic resonance imaging: A systematic review. J Med Radiat Sci. 2024 Mar;71(1):133-141. doi: 10.1002/jmrs.715. Epub 2023 Aug 10. PMID: 37563948; PMCID: PMC10920938.
  • Nowosilski M, Radbruch A. The emerging role of advanced neuroimaging techniques for brain metastases. Chin Clin Oncol. 2015 Jun;4(2):23. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2304-3865.2015.05.04. PMID: 26112809.
  • Pinker K, Stadlbauer A, Bogner W, Gruber S, Helbich TH. Molecular imaging of cancer: MR spectroscopy and beyond. Eur J Radiol. 2012 Mar;81(3):566-77. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2010.04.028. Epub 2010 Jun 4. PMID: 20554145.
  • Sawlani V, Davies N, Patel M, Flintham R, Fong C, Heyes G, Cruickshank G, Steven N, Peet A, Hartley A, Benghiat H, Meade S, Sanghera P. Evaluation of Response to Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Brain Metastases Using Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging and a Review of the Literature. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2019 Jan;31(1):41-49. doi: 10.1016/j.clon.2018.09.003. Epub 2018 Sep 28. PMID: 30274767.
  • Server A, Josefsen R, Kulle B, Maehlen J, Schellhorn T, Gadmar Ø, Kumar T, Haakonsen M, Langberg CW, Nakstad PH. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the distinction of high-grade cerebral gliomas from single metastatic brain tumors. Acta Radiol. 2010 Apr;51(3):316-25. doi: 10.3109/02841850903482901. PMID: 20092374.
  • Tong E, McCullagh KL, Iv M. Advanced Imaging of Brain Metastases: From Augmenting Visualization and Improving Diagnosis to Evaluating Treatment Response. Front Neurol. 2020 Apr 15;11:270. doi: 10.3389/ fneur.2020.00270. PMID: 32351445; PMCID: PMC7174761.
  • van der Graaf M. In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy: basic methodology and clinical applications. Eur Biophys J. 2010 Mar;39(4):527-40. doi: 10.1007/s00249-009-0517-y. Epub 2009 Aug 13. PMID: 19680645; PMCID: PMC2841275.
  • Zakaria R, Das K, Bhojak M, Radon M, Walker C, Jenkinson MD. The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the management of brain metastases: diagnosis to prognosis. Cancer Imaging. 2014 Apr 22;14(1):8. doi: 10.1186/1470-7330-14-8. PMID: 25608557; PMCID: PMC4331840.
There are 17 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Radiology and Organ Imaging
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Elif Dilara Topcuoğlu 0000-0001-8420-0752

Ayşe Şilan Kapuci 0009-0007-4715-556X

Submission Date November 16, 2025
Acceptance Date January 21, 2026
Publication Date February 25, 2026
DOI https://doi.org/10.70852/tmj.1824767
IZ https://izlik.org/JA24SU72CY
Published in Issue Year 2026 Volume: 11 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Topcuoğlu, E. D., & Kapuci, A. Ş. (2026). Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Findings and Differences in Brain Metastases of Lung and Breast Cancer. Turkish Medical Journal, 11(1), 9-15. https://doi.org/10.70852/tmj.1824767

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