Method for joint arterial input function and tracer kinetic parameter estimation in accelerated dce-mri using a model consistency constraint

A method for improving dynamic contrast enhanced imaging for joint arterial input function and tracer kinetic parameter estimation, the method comprising:

• a) administering a contrast agent to a subject;
• b) collecting imaging data from the subject for a tissue or organ;
• c) selecting a tracer kinetic model to be applied to the imaging data, the tracer kinetic model being defined by a plurality of tracer kinetic parameters;
• d) reconstructing dynamic images from the imaging data as reconstructed dynamic images, wherein a consistency constraint is applied to the reconstructed dynamic images;
• the consistency constraint including a weighted sum of a data consistency component and a model consistency component;
• e) applying the tracer kinetic model to the reconstructed dynamic images to estimate tracer kinetic parameter maps as estimated tracer kinetic parameter maps, wherein a model consistency constraint is applied;
• and
• f) alternately performing steps d) and e) until converging on a set of dynamic images and tracer kinetic parameter maps.