An apparatus and method include a computer programmed to implement a scan sequence configured to elicit scan data, wherein the scan sequence comprises an echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence configured to elicit the image data and to acquire the scan data. The computer is also programmed to manipulate the scan data to determine a first plurality of phase errors in the image data responsible for a Nyquist ghost, wherein the manipulated scan data is free of navigator echo data, remove the first plurality of phase errors from the image data, and reconstruct an image based on the image data having the first plurality of phase errors removed therefrom.