Preinvasive and invasive cervical cancer: an ex vivo proton magic angle spinning magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

The aim of this study was to obtain (1)H MR spectra using magic angle spinning (MAS) techniques from punch biopsies (<20 mg) of preinvasive and invasive cervical disease and to correlate the spectral profiles with sample classification on the basis of histopathology. Tissue samples were obtained at colposcopic examination, during local treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or at hysterectomy. (1)H MAS MRS was performed at 25 degrees C while spinning the sample at 4.5 kHz. After measurement, the tissue was immersed in formalin and the pathology determined. Histological examination after (1)H MAS MRS defined 27 samples with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 12 with CIN and 39 with only normal tissue. The standardized integrals of the lipid, choline and creatine regions of the spectra were significantly higher in SCC than in normal or CIN tissue. There was no obvious difference in the standardized integral of the region 4.15-3.5 ppm. The acyl fatty acid side-chain length was longer or less unsaturated in SCC than in normal tissue. Normal tissue from patients with SCC showed significantly higher triglycerides than normal tissue from patients with benign uterine disease but significantly lower triglycerides than SCC tissue. (1)H MAS MRS of the uterine cervix ex vivo may be used to differentiate non-invasive from invasive cervical lesions, increase interpretation of in vivo MRS and provide insights into tumor biology.