What can happen if phase oversampling is implemented in an MRI scan?

Implementing phase oversampling in an MRI scan generally leads to an increase in scan time, as more k-space lines are acquired to improve image quality. This increase in sampling in the phase-encoding direction helps to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by capturing more data points, which ultimately leads to clearer images with less noise. The benefit of improved SNR is particularly important in obtaining high-quality images in various clinical situations.

Although oversampling does contribute positively to SNR, it typically results in a longer acquisition time because more data is being collected compared to standard sampling methods. Therefore, the answer accurately reflects the trade-off involved in using phase oversampling during MRI scans.