Characterization of adrenal pheochromocytoma using respiratory-triggered proton MR spectroscopy: initial experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility of respiratory-triggered proton single-voxel MR spectroscopy for the diagnosis of adrenal pheochromocytoma and to determine whether certain spectral resonances detected on single-voxel MR spectroscopy are specific for adrenal pheochromocytomas compared with adrenal adenomas.

CONCLUSION: Adrenal pheochromocytomas have a unique MR spectral signature, showing 6.8 ppm resonance that is not seen in adenomas. This unique spectral signature may be attributed to the presence of catecholamines and catecholamine metabolites that are abundant in pheochromocytomas.