Metabolic white matter diseases and the utility of MR spectroscopy.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can be useful as an adjuvant diagnostic tool to traditional MR imaging of the brain. MRS can provide both quantitative and qualitative information about white matter pathologic abnormality. It is important to interpret MRS in conjunction with other clinical factors including but not limited to additional diagnostic neuroimaging, history and physical examination findings, and genetics.