Line scan echo planar spectroscopic imaging

A line scan echo planar spectroscopic imaging (LSEPSI) sequence is presented which can rapidly produce 2D chemical shift imaging (CSI) data with minimal relaxation weighting and motion-related artifacts. The technique is based on successive 'snapshot' 1D CSI acquisitions of individual tissue columns, and avoids T₁ saturation problems associated with the short TR periods needed for very rapid scanning with either conventional or echo planar-based 2D CSI methods. Potential applications include rapid fat/water spectral quantitation in the abdomen and internally referenced temperature monitoring for interventional procedures. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.