[Examination of imaging parameter influence on image distortion in EPI]

Echo planar imaging (EPI) is highly sensitive to static magnetic field inhomogeneities. The degree of local image compression and stretching is a function of the static field gradient in the phase-encoding direction. This is caused by the accumulation of a phase shift. Any static field shift will lead to a position shift in the image, and it is the regions with large static fields that are the most difficult to correct. We reduce image distortion by SENSE with an array coil. However, we often use a surface coil because we cannot use an array coil in clinical studies. In this case, image distortion becomes greater, and reduction of distortion is very important. For the purpose of this study, we examined the relation between imaging parameters and image distortion. Image distortion of EPI is unrelated to the following parameters: number of phase encodings, half scan, echo time, and diffusion b-value. However, the following parameters influenced image distortion: FOV, number of frequency encodings, rectangle FOV, and multi-shot imaging. Image distortion of EPI is decided by the area of the phase-encoding gradient and the interval of readout gradients. We hope that many institutions will find these data useful.