In this study we report an in vitro 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) characterization of water soluble metabolites obtained from 17 low grade extra and intracerebral human tumors (8 meningiomas, 5 oligodendrogliomas, 2 subependimomas and 2 ependimomas). In addition, the in vivo localized 1H MRS results for 4 of the meningiomas are reported. The main metabolic features characterizing low grade tumors were investigated. Meningiomas are characterized by high Cho/Cr and Ala/Cr ratios; in many cases both in the in vitro and the in vivo spectra these ratios cannot be evaluated, due to the absence of the Cr metabolite. Low grade oligodendrogliomas are characterized by low Cho/Cr ratios. High amounts of myo-inositol are found in the spectra of ependimomas and subependimomas which are distinguished by different Cho/Cr ratio values and by a different Ala content.

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