Features of sodium magnetic resonance spectroscopy and its application in neurology

Abstract

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is an important non-invasive method that measures concentration and spatial distribution of certain biochemically significant tissue metabolites. This relatively new method has now evolved from a research tool to an independent diagnostic neuroimaging method, which provides answers to a number of important clinical and diagnostic questions at the early stages of the disease, and allows evaluation of treatment efficacy and determination of clinical outcome. The article provides a review of data on sodium magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which is a very sensitive method for assessing cell viability and ion homeostasis. It can be used to measure early biochemical disturbances in the tissues in various degenerative diseases. We describe pathophysiology and technology underlying sodium magnetic resonance spectroscopy, as well as the most promising points of application of this method in central nervous system disorders seen by radiologists and neurologists in their clinical practice.