Brain MRI and MRS Detection of Falx Ossification or Lipomas in a Majority of Older Adults

Peter B. Kingsley¹, Marc L. Gordon², ³

Lipids in brain MR spectra often suggest pathology, such as tumor, infection, or demyelination. We observed lipids in spectra of a majority of normal adult and aging human brains, ages 50-90. These lipids, usually found in the interhemispheric fissure, may be associated with falx ossifications (broad peaks) or lipomas (CH2 peak near 1.5 ppm). Previously, ossifications were reported in <1%, large lipomas in <0.1%, and small lipomas in 10% of elderly adults. Lipids in human brain MR spectra may not necessarily indicate pathology, especially if a midline voxel lipid peak is broad or shifted from 1.3 ppm to 1.5 ppm.