Main Metabolites Detected by MRS, Their Chemical Shift Position, and Interpretation
| Metabolite | Peak position (ppm) | Echo time used | Interpretation | Found in normal tissue? |
| Choline | 3.2 | Short and long | Membrane turnover | Yes |
| Creatine/phosphocreatine | 3.02, 3.8 | Short and long | Energy metabolism | Yes |
| NAA | 2.01, 2.6 | Short and long | Neural tissue integrity | Yes |
| Lipids | 0–2 | Short and long | Tissue necrosis | Only as contamination |
| Lactate | 1.33 | Short and long | Anaerobic glycolysis | No |
| Taurine | 3.36 | Short | Pediatric tumors | Below sensitivity |
| Myoinositol | 3.56, 4.06 | Short | Glial activation | Yes |
Clinically used echo times are 20–30 ms (short), 135–144 ms (long), or 270 ms.