SPECIAL MR METHODS FOR PRIMARY BONE-TUMOR S .2. VOLUME SELECTIVE H-1 SPECTROSCOPY

The method of localised H-1 MR spectroscopy was used in 19 examination s in 9 patients with primary bone tumours in order to obtain spectral signals and to determine whether these are specific for tumour classif ication. The spectra were obtained by a double spin echo method and th e tumour tissue showed very high water content and only minor lipid an d proton signals which showed J-coupling characteristics. The latter a re not found in normal bone marrow and are probably due to products of tumour metabolism. The resolution of the spectra within a 13 mm or 20 mm tissue cube depends largely on the structural homogeneity of the t umour. The signal patterns in the spectra were not specific to histolo gical tumour types.