A method of parallel MR imaging includes subjecting the portion of the body (10) to an imaging sequence of at least one RF pulse and a plurality of switched magnetic field gradients. The MR signals are acquired in parallel via a plurality of RF coils (11, 12, 13) having different spatial sensitivity profiles within the examination volume. The method further includes deriving an estimated ghost level map from the acquired MR signals and from spatial sensitivity maps of the RF coils (11, 12, 13), and reconstructing a MR image from the acquired MR signals, the spatial sensitivity maps, and the estimated ghost level map.