Abstract
The ultrafast magnetic resonance imaging technique known as echo-planar imaging has undergone considerable technical improvements in recent years. It is currently being evaluated at only a few institutions worldwide. Although EPI, invented by P. Mansfield in 1977, is the oldest fast MRI technique, it is still not widely available on clinical scanners. Only 20–30 EPI scanners exist worldwide, compared to about 7000 conventional MRI scanners. The main reason why EPI has not emerged from the scientific prototype niche is its high demands on hardware and software. However, the time is now coming when EPI is entering the clinical stage. We describe the common EPI sequence types, show clinical results, and describe the contrast in the measured images.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Mansfield P (1977) Multi-planar image formation using NMR spin echoes.J Phys C L55–L58.
Le Bihan D (1991) Molecular diffusion nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.Magn Reson Quart 7 1–30.
Turner R, Le Bihan D, Chesnick AS (1991) Echo-planar imaging of diffusion and perfusion.Magn Reson Med 19 247–253.
Moseley ME, Mintorovitch J, Asgari H, Vexler Z, Kuchar-czyk J (1991) Diffusion/perfusion MR characterization of hyperacute cerebral ischemia. SMRM Book of Abstracts, p. 330.
Warach S, Chen D, Li W, Ronthal M, Edelman RR (1992) Fast magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging of acute human stroke.Neurology 42 1717–1723.
Warach S, Wielopolski P, Edelman RR (1993) Identification of the ischemic penumbra of acute human stroke using echo planar diffusion and perfusion imaging. SMRM Book of Abstracts; p. 249.
Stejskal EO, Tanner JE (1965) Spin diffusion measurements: spin-echo in the presence of a time-dependent field-gradient.J Chem Phys 42 288–292.
Merbold KD, Hanicke W, Bruhn H, Gyngell ML, Frahm J (1992) Diffusion imaging of the human brain in vivo using high speed STEAM MRI.Magn Reson Med 23 179–192.
Edelman RR, Gaa J, Prasad PV, Pearlman JD (1993) Diffusion imaging of the human heart. SMRM Book of Abstracts, p. 286.
Müller MF, Prasad PV, Siewert B, Raptopoulus V, Nissen-baum MA, Lewis WD, Edelman RR (1993) Abdominal diffusion mapping using a whole body echo planar system. SMRM Book of Abstracts, p. 45.
Hennig J, Friedburg H (1988) Clinical applications and methodological developments of the RARE technique.Magn Reson Imaging 6 391–395.
Oshio K, Feinberg DA (1991) GRASE (gradient- and spin-echo) imaging: a novel fast MRI technique.Magn Reson Imaging 20 344–349.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schmitt, F., Warach, S., Wielopolski, P. et al. Clinical applications and techniques of echo-planar imaging. MAGMA 2, 259–266 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01705250
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01705250