Clinical applications of proton MR spectroscopy.

Magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy has received little attention from the clinical radiology community. Indeed, most MR spectroscopic studies are performed by a small and dedicated group of individuals, mostly basic scientists. This behavior is partly because MR spectroscopy does not produce “pictures” but results in “graphs,” and until lately, it could only be obtained with dedicated units and software. At present, MR spectroscopy may be obtained with many clinical 1.5-T MR units and commercially available software. Adequate MR spectra may be obtained in periods of time as short as 10 to 15 minutes. Therefore, they may be added to routine MR imaging studies without significant time penalties. Moreover, MR spectroscopy provides greater information concerning tissue characterization than what is possible with MR imaging studies alone. This article will review the current status of proton MR spectroscopy with emphasis on its clinical utility for evaluation of neurologic disorders. Also, we include a section on some innovative and promising uses of proton MR spectroscopy. The information provided here is simplified in the hope that its understanding will lead to increased use of proton MR spectroscopy by clinical radiologists.