For the wide uses of NMR spectroscopy (from mineralogy to medicine) there is a variety of different spectroscopic imaging techniques available.
A short listing of the most frequent variations:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine is a noninvasive procedure to evaluate different types of tissue, including the spinal cord, vertebral disks and spaces between the vertebrae through which the nerves travel, as well as distinguish healthy tissue from diseased tissue.
The cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine MRI should be scanned in individual sections. The scan protocol parameter like e.g. the field of view (FOV), slice thickness and matrix are usually different for cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine MRI, but the method is similar. The standard views in the basic spinal MRI scan to create detailed slices (cross sections) are sagittal T1 weighted and T2 weighted images over the whole body part, and transverse (e.g. multi angle oblique) over the region of interest with different pulse sequences according to the result of the sagittal slices. Additional views or different types of pulse sequences like fat suppression, fluid attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) or diffusion weighted imaging are created dependent on the indication.

Indications:

Contrast enhanced MRI techniques delineate infections vs. malignancies, show a syrinx cavity and support to differentiate the postoperative conditions. After surgery for disk disease, significant fibrosis can occur in the spine. This scarring can mimic residual disk herniation. Magnetic resonance myelography evaluates spinal stenosis and various intervertebral discs can be imaged with multi angle oblique techniques. Cine series can be used to show true range of motion studies of parts of the spine. Advanced open MRI devices are developed to perform positional scans in the position of pain or symptom (e.g. Uprightâ„¢ MRI formerly Stand-Up MRI).

(TOF) The time of flight angiography is used for the imaging of vessels. Usually the sequence type is a gradient echo sequences with short TR, acquired with slices perpendicular to the direction of blood flow.
The source of diverse flow effects is the difference between the unsaturated and presaturated spins and creates a bright vascular image without the invasive use of contrast media. Flowing blood moves unsaturated spins from outside the slice into the imaging plane. These completely relaxed spins have full equilibrium magnetization and produce (when entering the imaging plane) a much higher signal than stationary spins if a gradient echo sequence is generated. This flow related enhancement is also referred to as entry slice phenomenon, or inflow enhancement.
Performing a presaturation slab on one side parallel to the slice can selectively destroy the MR signal from the in-flowing blood from this side of the slice. This allows the technique to be flow direction sensitive and to separate arteriograms or venograms. When the local magnetization of moving blood is selectively altered in a region, e.g. by selective excitation, it carries the altered magnetization with it when it moves, thus tagging the selected region for times on the order of the relaxation times.
For maximum flow signal, a complete new part of blood has to enter the slice every repetition (TR) period, which makes time of flight angiography sensitive to flow-velocity. The choice of TR and slice thickness should be appropriate to the expected flow-velocities because even small changes in slice thickness influences the performance of the TOF sequence. The use of sequential 2 dimensional Fourier transformation (2DFT) slices, 3DFT slabs, or multiple 3D slabs (chunks) are depending on the coverage required and the range of flow-velocities.
3D TOF MRA is routinely used for evaluating the Circle of Willis.

See also Magnetic Resonance Angiography and Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Angiography.

Tomography is imaging by sections or sectioning. A device used in tomography is called a tomograph, while the image produced is a tomogram. The mathematical basis for tomographic imaging was laid down by Johann Radon. It is applied in computed tomography and magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) also called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to obtain cross-sectional images of slices through the body of patients. Each of that slices is defined by thickness and spatial resolution (see voxel).

Inert hyperpolarized gases are under development for imaging air spaces, including those in the lungs. Because they mostly contain air and water, lungs are difficult organs to image.
These ventilation agents (gases) have potential in lung imaging and are currently used in studies of the pulmonary ventilation:
Specific isotopes of inert gases can be hyperpolarized. Hyperpolarized is a state in which almost all of the atoms nuclei are spinning in the same direction. Once the nuclei in the isotope 3He have been hyperpolarized using a laser, they remain in this state for several days. The inert, hyperpolarized gas can then be used in a lung imaging study, where the high concentration of polarized nuclei provides a sharp contrast in MRI. The technique is already being developed with a view to commercialization by Magnetic Imaging Technologies in Durham, North Carolina. According to the company, existing MRI equipment can be used with a few minor modifications, along with a gas polarizer. The technique could provide early detection and monitoring of pulmonary disease.
Hyperpolarized 129Xe can also be used as a magnetic resonance tracer because of its MR-enhanced sensitivity combined with its high solubility. This isotope differs from 3He in that it can dissolve in the blood. Strong enhancement of the nuclear spin polarization of xenon in the gas phase can be achieved by optical pumping of rubidium and subsequent spin-exchange with the xenon nuclei. This technique can increase the magnetic resonance signal of xenon by five orders of magnitude, thus allowing NMR detection of xenon in very low concentration. MR spectroscopy and imaging of optically polarized xenon shows considerable potential for medical applications (see also back projection imaging).
Nycomed Amersham anticipated the market for inert gases in pulmonary imaging. The company obtained an exclusive license for the use of helium (He) and xenon (Xe) as MRI contrast agents. Currently, the US FDA has not yet approved the commercial distribution of inert gas imaging equipment, because the technique is still undergoing trials.