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Review
. 2024 Aug 5;16(8):e66205.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.66205. eCollection 2024 Aug.

Role of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Evaluating Choline Levels in Gallbladder Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Review

Affiliations
Review

Role of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Evaluating Choline Levels in Gallbladder Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Review

Anjali Kumari et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) presents a significant clinical challenge due to its aggressive nature and often asymptomatic progression, resulting in late-stage diagnoses and a poor prognosis. Early detection and accurate staging are pivotal for improving patient outcomes, highlighting the critical role of advanced imaging techniques in oncological practice. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has emerged as a valuable non-invasive tool capable of assessing biochemical changes within tissues, including alterations in choline metabolism-a biomarker indicative of cell membrane turnover and proliferation. This review explores the application of MRS in evaluating choline levels in gallbladder carcinoma, synthesizing current literature to elucidate its potential in clinical settings. By analyzing studies investigating the correlation between choline levels detected via MRS and tumor characteristics, this review underscores MRS's role in enhancing diagnostic precision and guiding therapeutic decision-making. Moreover, it discusses the challenges and limitations associated with MRS in clinical practice alongside future research and technological advancement directions. Ultimately, integrating MRS into the diagnostic armamentarium for gallbladder carcinoma promises to improve early detection and treatment outcomes. This review provides insights into the evolving landscape of MRS in oncology, emphasizing its contribution to personalized medicine approaches aimed at optimizing patient care and management strategies for GBC.

Keywords: biomarkers; cancer staging; choline metabolism; diagnostic imaging; gallbladder carcinoma; magnetic resonance spectroscopy (mrs).

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The role of choline in cell membrane synthesis and turnover.
Image Credit: Dr Anjali Kumari.

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