In MRI, the higher the magnetic field (1.5T or 3T) the better the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which translates into better image quality. While MRI provides unparalleled soft tissue contrast, the drawback is its temporal resolution. Whereas CT scanning of the coronary arteries takes mere seconds, MR imaging can take up to 20 minutes or even longer. The latest innovation to increase the speed of MRI is to employ multi-channel radiofrequency (RF) coils with parallel acquisition techniques.
