In a method and apparatus for accelerated spiral-coded imaging (scanning k-space with a spiral trajectory) in magnetic resonance tomography, the user-defined sequence forming the basis of the spiral scanning is modified such that the k-matrix forming the basis of the sequence is scanned only in a sub-region, the sub-region being defined by a symmetrical shortening on both sides of the k-space matrix in a first direction as well as by a one-sided shortening of the k-space matrix in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.