A method for selective sampling to assess texture of a specimen using magnetic resonance (MR) excites the specimen and refocuses to provide a sample rod within the specimen. An encoding gradient pulse is applied to induce phase wrap creating a spatial encode for a specific k-value and orientation. A low non-zero magnitude gradient is then applied acting as a time dependent phase encode to produce a time varying trajectory through 3D k-space of k-value encodes while simultaneously recording multiple sequential samples of the signal at a sequence of k-values proximate the specific k-value. The receiver bandwidth is set to delineate a length of a VOI within the rod during the data sampling. The samples are then post processed at the sequence of k values, recorded within a time span while the non-zero magnitude gradient is applied, to characterize the textural features of tissue in the VOI.
