A RF coil compression system for use with an MRI system configured to image a patients breast is disclosed. In one embodiment, the compression system comprises a first compression plate comprising a first plurality of RF coil elements, which is positioned in a plane oriented orthogonal to a direction of the main magnetic field and the first RF coil elements having a reception sensitivity to a B1 field and is orthogonal to a main magnetic field of the MRI system. The compresses system may further comprise a second compression plate, configured to be positioned opposing the first compression plate and orthogonal to the superior-inferior direction, the second compression plate comprising a second plurality of RF coil elements, the second RF coil elements having a reception sensitivity to a B1 field oriented in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction and to the main magnetic field of the MRI system.
