MR Spectroscopy in Clinical Practice Skill level: Intermediate Alberto Bizzi, M.D. and Petra S. Hüppi, M.D., Organizers Saturday, 19 May   Overview This second edition of last year’s successful course will, in one day, briefly review the basics of MRS, and then illustrate in depth the basics of MRS data acquisition, post-processing, biochemical interpretation and quality assurance. Options and strategies for semi-quantitative and absolute quantitation will be discussed. The main clinical applications of H-MRS will be reviewed by clinicians and MR spectroscopists who routinely apply MRS in the work-up of patients. Finally, the challenges and promise of 31P and 13C MRS will be illustrated. The speakers will explain how MRS has contributed to clinical decision making, without giving undue emphasis to their own work (to constitute no more than 10% of their lectures). Educational Objectives Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to: • Describe the rationale for performing clinical MR spectroscopy; • Explain the fundamental steps involved in performing and evaluating an MRS examination; • Describe quantitative methods and their limitations; • Recognize artifacts and pitfalls of clinical MRS; • List diagnostic and patient management situations in which there is a clinically significant justification for an MRS examination; • Describe recent clinical uses of in vivo MRS in pediatrics, neurology and psychiatry; and • Design and implement an appropriate MRS protocol for a clinical or research study Audience Description This course is designed for: • Students in EE/BME/physics who are interested in learning about MRS applications; • Scientists who are interested in reviewing the MRS applications and learning the state of the art methodology for clinical applications; and   clinicians/MDs who are interested in learning MRS applications and establishing a link between MRS and clinical questions. • Everybody wishing to understand clinical applications and related problems will find this course worthwhile. • The level of the course will be appropriate both for people who are interested in entering the field, as well as current users. Introduction and Methodology   08:00 Basics of MR Spectroscopy for the Practicing Clinician Jeffrey R. Alger, Ph.D. 08:30 1D, 2D and 3D Localization Techniques and Shimming Markus von Kienlin, Ph.D. 09:00 Data Processing and Interpretation Michela Tosetti, Ph.D. 09:30 1D, 2D and 3D Quantification Methods Brian J. Soher, Ph.D. 10:00 Break - Meet the teachers       10:30 Quality Assurance and Artifacts Roland Kreis, Ph.D. 11:00 High-speed MR Spectroscopic Imaging Stefan Posse, Ph.D.     Clinical Applications in Pediatrics   11:30 MRS in Perinatal Asphyxia Kim M. Cecil, Ph.D. 12:00 MRSI in Heriditary Metabolic Disorders Nicola De Stefano, M.D. 12:30 MRS & fMRI in Epilepsy Surgery Francois Lazeyras, M.D. 13:00 Break   13:00 - 13:15 - Meet the teachers       Clinical Applications in the Brain   14:30 MRS in Stroke, MS and Infectious Diseases Peter  B. Barker, Ph.D. 15:00 Surgical Planning and Follow-up of Brain Tumors Alberto Bizzi, M.D. 15:30 Break - Meet the teachers       16:00 MRS in Neurodegenerative Diseases Adam D. Waldman, M.D., Ph.D. 16:30 MRS in Psychiatric Diseases John D. Port, M.D., Ph.D. 17:00 Challenges and promise of 13C and 31P MRS Stefan Bluml, Ph.D. 17:30 Adjournment   17:30 - 17:45 - Meet the teachers