[en] To evaluate the usefulness of echo-planar FLAIR imaging in various cerebral lesions as compared with fast FLAIR imaging. We obtained consecutive fast FLAIR and echo-planar FLAIR images in 33 patients in whom MR imaging had revealed ischemic infarction (n=11), acute infarction (n=5), brain tumor (n=3),other conditions (n=3) or no abnormality (n=11). On both sets of images, percentage contrast and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) were calculated for white matter-gray matter and white matter-lesion. White matter-gray matter percentage contrast and CNR were lower on echo-planar FLAIR imaging than on fast FLAIR imaging (percentage contrast, 19±2 % vs 28±3 %, CNR, 2.77±0.5 vs 4.86±0.7). White matter-lesion percentage contrast on echo-planar FLAIR imaging was similar to or greater than that on fast FLAIR imaging; 75±12 % vs 45±11 % in ischemic infarction, 80±12% vs 78±11% in acute infarction, and 121±25 % vs 102±15 % for tumors. White matter-lesion CNR was similar on both sets of images: 8.3±0.9 vs 7.9±0.8 in ischemic infarction, 11±1.5 vs 9.5±1.2 in acute infarction, and 24±4 vs 27±3 for tumors. Due to high susceptibility to magnetization, echo-planar FLAIR imaging showed image degradation at the interface of the paranasal sinus and adjacent to the temporal bone. Echo-planar FLAIR imaging may be a useful pulse sequence in the diagnosis of various cerebral lesions