Discrimination of Brain Abscess and Necrotic Brain Tumor with Proton MR Spectroscopy and Diffusion-Weighted Imaging

Objective: To compare the efficacy of MR spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted imaging in discriminating between cystic or necrotic tumors and pyogenic brain abscesses.Study Design: A retrospective study design.Place and Duration of Study: The Study was conducted at the Radiology Department of Nishtar Hospital Multan and General Hospital Lahore, Pakistan, from January 2022 to January 2023. Methods: A total ten patients were included in the study. Of 10 patients, 5 had pyogenic abscesses, and 5 had tumors. Tumors were metastases (2 patients), glioblastomas (2 patients), and anaplastic astrocytoma (1 patient). Proton MR spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted imaging were performed in all patients. Results: Results showed that significant resonance lines (creatine/phosphocreatine, N-acetyl aspartate, and choline) observed in normal brain parenchyma were missing in abscesses or necrosis. MR spectroscopy of abscess showed multiple resonance peaks. Diffusion-weighted images showed that all pyogenic abscesses had lower ADC values and were hyperintense compared to normal brains. Conclusion: Diffusion-weighted imaging is more accurate and less time consuming method for discrimination of brain lesions compared to MR spectroscopy. How to cite this: Saqib HA, Asghar A, Firdous A, Zahra M, Islam Z, Mushtaq S. Discrimination of Brain Abscess and Necrotic Brain Tumor with Proton MR Spectroscopy and Diffusion Weighted Imaging. Life and Science. 2023; 4(4): 432-437. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.431