In Vivo Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Study of the Healthy Chinese Adult Pons

Objective:  To detect the normal standard of metabolic ratios in the Pons of healthy adult Chinese subjects by using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HMRS). Materials and Methods:  Eighty healthy Chinese subjects were divided into four groups, containing of 20 subjects per decade, ranging 21 to 60 years. Spectra were obtained from at 1.5T MR scanner by using a PRESS sequence with Repetition Time (TR)/ Echo Time (TE) of 1500/144ms. Results:  The total mean ratios of N-acetylasparate/ creatine-phosphocreatine(NAA/Cr), NAA/Cr+ choline-containing compound(Cho) and Cho/Cr in subjects ranging from 21 to 60 years were 2.127±0.071, 0.811±0.059 and 1.814±0.094, respectively. The metabolic ratios in men were higher than in women. However, there was no significant difference with respect to age or gender. Conclusions: The ratios of NAA/Cr, NAA/Cr+Cho, Cho/Cr in the Pons did not correlate with age or gender of healthy subjects.