Diffusion-tensor MR imaging of the brain is an objective method that can measure diffusion of water in tissue noninvasively. Five adult volunteers participated in this study that was performed to evaluate the potential of gradient- and spin-echo readout for diffusion-tensor imaging by comparing it with single-shot spin-echo echo-planar imaging. Gradient- and spin-echo readout provides comparable measures of water diffusion to single-shot spin-echo echo-planar readout with significantly less geometrical distortion at the expense of a longer imaging time.