In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the evaluation of mitochondrial disorders

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been utilized to study several metabolic pathways in vivo and in live tissues in vitro non-invasively. Despite its inherited lack of sensitivity, its application has extended all the way to in situ human tissues and organs since proper technical advancements were devised. Examples of its application described here demonstrate the value of in vivo MRS as a technique that determines parameters of mitochondrial dysfunction directly and indirectly which could be of value for the diagnosis, prognosis, and follow-up of mitochondrial disorders. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. and Mitochondria Research Society. All rights reserved.