Magnetic resonance method and apparatus using dual echoes for data acquisition

A method for acquiring magnetic resonance image data, comprising the steps of:

• providing a magnetic resonance scanner operated by a control computer and having a magnet system that generates a basic magnetic field;
• using said control computer, making a designation of a division to place a dividing line in a planar section through a human or animal subject, dependent on anatomy represented in said planar section, that selectively divides said planar section into, and establishes in said planar section, a division comprising a first selected section on one side of said dividing line in which said basic magnetic field has a first homogeneity and a second selected section, on an opposite side of said dividing line and separated from said first selected section by said dividing line, in which said basic magnetic field has a second homogeneity that is less homogenous than said first homogeneity;
• after making said division, using said control computer to generate a control protocol incorporating the designation of said division, that operates said magnetic resonance scanner to acquire magnetic resonance image data from the subject using an echo planar imaging sequence in which, according to said designation of said division, magnetic resonance image data are acquired from said first selected section only from gradient echo signals in said echo planar imaging sequence and magnetic resonance image data are acquired from said second selected section from both gradient echo signals and spin echo signals in said echo planar imaging sequence;
• operating said magnetic resonance scanner from said control computer according to said control protocol to acquire said magnetic resonance image data from the subject;
• and
• making the magnetic resonance image data from the subject available as an output from the control computer in a form allowing reconstruction of a visible image of the subject therefrom.