Elevated brain lactate level by MRS

What it means

An increase in the level of lactate in the brain identified by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).

Lactate (Lac) is absent in normal brain tissue and its presence is indicative of anerobic glycolysis at the cellular level. Elevated levels are associated with ischemic conditions or metabolic disorders (where anerobic glycolysis predominates) but is also noted at the edges of large brain tumors. The peak is very sensitive to the technique employed and unless the correct echo time is employed, it may be artifactually suppressed. The spectral peak lies at 1:33 ppm. The peak is often inverted or bifid.

Rare diseases that can present with this11

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category