A technique embodied in a method and apparatus is disclosed for acquiring
MR images in 2D and 3D using a common pulse sequence switchable in
real-time. The technique includes identifying a 3D imaging volume and
applying a 3D pulse sequence having the slice encoding and rewinder
gradients disabled in one dimension. The technique then allows localizing
and monitoring by acquiring 2D MR data. When it is desirable to enter a
3D imaging mode, the slice encoding and rewinder gradients are re-enabled
in the common pulse sequence for acquisition of 3D MR data.