Plug-and-Play blind super-resolution of real MRI images for improved multiple sclerosis diagnosis

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is central to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, where the identification of biomarkers such as the central vein sign benefits from high-resolution images. However, most clinical brain MRI scans are performed using 1.5 T scanners, which provide lower sensitivity compared to higher-field systems. We propose a blind super-resolution framework to enhance real 1.5 T MRI images acquired in clinical settings, where only post-processed data are available and the degradation model is not fully known. The problem is formulated as a non-convex blind inverse problem involving the joint estimation of the high-resolution image and the blur kernel. Image regularization is handled through a Plug-and-Play strategy based on a pretrained denoiser, while suitable constraints are imposed on the blur kernel. To solve the resulting model, we design a heterogeneous alternating block-coordinate method in which the two variables are updated using different types of algorithms. Convergence properties are rigorously established. Experiments on FLAIR and SWI sequences acquired at 1.5 T show improved structural definition and enhanced visibility of clinically relevant features, with visual comparison against 3 T images.