Localized proton MR spectroscopy of the allocortex and isocortex in healthy children

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The human allocortex is different from the isocorte x in neuroglial cytoarchitecture. The purpose of this study was to compare metabolic data of the allocortex with those of the isocortex by using local ized proton MR spectroscopy. METHODS: Short-TE stimulated-echo acquisition mode proton MR spectroscopy ( TR/TE = 3000/30) was applied to the allocortex of the temporal lobe and iso cortex of the parietal or frontal lobe in 30 healthy children (19 boys and 11 girls, 3-14 years old). Peak intensities of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), cho line-containing compounds (Cho), and myo-inositol (mI) relative to creatine and phosphocreatine (Cr) were calculated. Metabolic data from the investig ated regions were compared. RESULTS: NAA/Cr was significantly lower in the allocortex than in the isoco rtex of the parietal or frontal lobe: 1.05 +/- 0.12 (n = 33) vs. 1.36 +/- 0 .10 (n = 28) or 1.32 +/- 0.10 (n = 12), respectively. Cho/Cr and mI/Cr were significantly higher in the allocortex than in the isocortex: 0.84 +/- 0.1 1 vs, 0.56 +/- 0.06 or 0.75 +/- 0.10; 0.78 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.54 +/- 0.08 or 0. 66 +/- 0.09, respectively, In the isocortex, NAA/Cr was not different but C ho/Cr and mI/Cr were significantly higher in the frontal cortex than in the parietal cortex. CONCLUSION: Clear metabolic differences were observed between the allocorte x and isocortex.