Echo planar imaging of normal and abnormal connections of the heart and great arteries.

Echo planar imaging (EPI) is that form of magnetic resonance imaging which provides very short image acquisition times. EPI also provides very rapid sequential imaging. The EPI method is ideal for imaging the heart and thoracic content because images are devoid of cardio-respiratory motion artefact. Previously an analysis of transectional images has been presented. This paper is concerned with the study of the heart by the use of EPI constructions in the sagittal and coronal planes. Defining connections between ventricle and great artery is of cardinal importance in paediatric cardiology. EPI constructions in the normal heart, transposition, truncus arteriosus and right heart hypoplasia are presented and discussed.