13C MR Imaging of Methionine-rich Gliomas at 4.7T: A Pilot Study

Abstract

We explored the feasibility of using carbon-13 ( 13 C) magnetic resonance imaging ( 13 C-MRI) to depict 13 C-labeled methionine-enriched gliomas at 4.7 tesla. We transplanted 2 types of glioma cells separately to 2 subcutaneous tissue sites on the backs of mice weighing 15 to 20 g. After conˆrming tumor growth, we used 13 C-MRI and 1 H-MRI to scan 4 mice that had been administered 13 C-labeled methionine and 2 control mice. 13 C-MRI of all 4 transplanted mice administered with 13 C-labeled methionine revealed 2 areas of hyperintensity that corresponded to the tumor sites on 1 H-MR images, but no such areas were visualized in transplanted controls. Our data suggest that 13 C-MRI can show the accumulation of 13 C-labeled tracer by gliomas.