Experimental and human brain neoplasms: detection with in vivo sodium MR imaging.

Abstract

Elevations of intracellular sodium concentration have been observed in rapidly proliferating cells and malignant neoplasms. Sodium magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (with repetition times of 133 msec and echo times of 13, 26, 39, and 42 msec) was performed in ten patients and three dogs with central nervous system neoplasms. In all instances the neoplasms were associated with an increased sodium signal compared with that of normal brain. Unfortunately, the available echo times did not enable discrimination of intracellular sodium from extracellular sodium, which was present in high concentrations in adjacent vasogenic edema fluid. Further study is necessary to establish the utility of sodium MR imaging for the investigation of malignant neoplasms.

Low-Grade Glioma: Correlation of Short Echo Time1H-MR Spectroscopy with23Na MR Imaging

“…The increased sodium signal intensity observed in the current study is also consistent with previous reports 14,15,18 and probably indicates expansion of the extracellular space and increased intracellular sodium concentration. 23 Na signal intensity was inversely correlated with both NAA and Glu as expected.…”

“…[14][15][16] For example, neoplastic cell proliferation and packing, cell death, and necrosis expand the extracellular space in tumors. A defective blood-brain barrier in tumors also permits water, electrolytes, and proteins to enter the extracellular space leading to vasogenic edema.…”

Sodium‐23 imaging of supratentorial lesions at 4.0 T

“…This is mainly due to the low signal to noise ratio ( S / N ratio) of sodium at a given magnetic field strength. Since S / N can be increased by using circularly polarized RF coils, 3D acquisition schemes, reduction of spatial resolution, and a longer measurement time, sodium imaging can be performed at field strengths commonly used for MRI of protons (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Further improvement of the S / N ratio or reduction of measurement time in order to be more acceptable by the patients is achieved by the use of stronger magnets.…”

Sodium MR Imaging Detection of Mild Alzheimer Disease: Preliminary Study

“…Cellular viability in myocardial ischemia has been predicted by looking at the changes in intracellular 23 Na 27. In the brain, 23 Na has been used to differentiate tumors from surrounding tissue28,29 as well as track cell death in cerebral infarction 30,31…”