Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of renal and other retroperitoneal tumors.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This paper focuses on demonstrating the power of magnetic resonance spectroscopy when used as a clinical tool in the medical sciences. The main goal is to illustrate the potential of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in renal oncology.

RECENT FINDINGS

The broad application of spectroscopy to the study of tumors in human brain, breast and prostate is well documented in the literature; however, the method is not yet widely utilized in the study of renal tumors. The analysis of the in-vitro high-resolution magnetic resonance spectroscopy of specimens removed during surgery shows promise for identifying biochemical profiles characteristic of benign renal tumors and renal cancers of different grades. In particular, resonances of creatine, acetate, choline compounds, and lipid components seem to vary between benign and malignant tissue.

SUMMARY

The identification of specific metabolites that differentiate benign from malignant tissue in vivo would spare the patient with a solid renal mass from unnecessary biopsies prior to surgery, or from surgery when a lesion would best be treated medically.