Evaluation of a CTA-based convolutional neural network for infarct volume prediction in anterior cerebral circulation ischaemic stroke.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Computed tomography angiography (CTA) imaging is needed in current guideline-based stroke diagnosis, and infarct core size is one factor in guiding treatment decisions. We studied the efficacy of a convolutional neural network (CNN) in final infarct volume prediction from CTA and compared the results to a CT perfusion (CTP)-based commercially available software (RAPID, iSchemaView).

METHODS:

We retrospectively selected 83 consecutive stroke cases treated with thrombolytic therapy or receiving supportive care that presented to Helsinki University Hospital between January 2018 and July 2019. We compared CNN-derived ischaemic lesion volumes to final infarct volumes that were manually segmented from follow-up CT and to CTP-RAPID ischaemic core volumes.

RESULTS:

An overall correlation of r = 0.83 was found between CNN outputs and final infarct volumes. The strongest correlation was found in a subgroup of patients that presented more than 9 h of symptom onset (r = 0.90). A good correlation was found between the CNN outputs and CTP-RAPID ischaemic core volumes (r = 0.89) and the CNN was able to classify patients for thrombolytic therapy or supportive care with a 1.00 sensitivity and 0.94 specificity.

CONCLUSIONS:

A CTA-based CNN software can provide good infarct core volume estimates as observed in follow-up imaging studies. CNN-derived infarct volumes had a good correlation to CTP-RAPID ischaemic core volumes.

• Authors: Lasse Hokkinen, Teemu Mäkelä, Sauli Savolainen, Marko Kangasniemi
• Journal: European radiology experimental (Eur Radiol Exp) Vol. 5 Issue 1 Pg. 25 (06 24 2021) ISSN: 2509-9280 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34164743 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Brain Ischemia (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Cerebrovascular Circulation
• Computed Tomography Angiography
• Humans
• Infarction
• Ischemic Stroke
• Neural Networks, Computer
• Perfusion Imaging
• Retrospective Studies
• Stroke (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed