Partial Fourier reconstruction of complex MR images using complex-valued convolutional neural networks

Purpose To provide a complex-valued deep learning approach for partial Fourier (PF) reconstruction of complex MR images. Methods Conventional PF reconstruction methods, such as projection onto convex sets (POCS), uses low-resolution image phase information from the central symmetrically sampled k-space for image reconstruction. However, this smooth phase constraint undermines the phase estimation accuracy in presence of rapid local phase variations, causing image artifacts and limiting the extent of PF reconstruction. Using both magnitude and phase characteristics in big complex image datasets, we propose a complex-valued deep learning approach with an unrolled network architecture for PF reconstruction that iteratively reconstructs PF sampled data and enforces data consistency. We evaluate our approach for reconstructing both spin-echo and gradient-echo data. Results The proposed method outperformed the iterative POCS PF reconstruction method. It produced better artifact suppression and recovery of both image magnitude and phase details in presence of local phase changes. No noise amplification was observed even for highly PF reconstruction. Moreover, the network trained on axial brain data could reconstruct sagittal and coronal brain and knee data. This method could be extended to 2D PF reconstruction and joint multi-slice PF reconstruction. Conclusion Our proposed method can effectively reconstruct MR data even at low PF fractions, yielding high-fidelity magnitude and phase images. It presents a valuable alternative to conventional PF reconstruction, especially for phase-sensitive 2D or 3D MRI applications.