A patch-based deep learning MRI segmentation model for improving efficiency and clinical examination of the spinal tumor

Background and objective

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a vital role in diagnosing spinal diseases, including different types of spinal tumors. However, conventional segmentation techniques are often labor-intensive and susceptible to variability. This study aims to propose a full-automatic segmentation method for spine MRI images, utilizing a convolutional-deconvolution neural network and patch-based deep learning. The objective is to improve segmentation efficiency, meeting clinical needs for accurate diagnoses and treatment planning.

Methods

The methodology involved the utilization of a convolutional neural network to automatically extract deep learning features from spine data. This allowed for the effective representation of anatomical structures. The network was trained to learn discriminative features necessary for accurate segmentation of the spine MRI data. Furthermore, a patch extraction (PE) based deep neural network was developed using a convolutional neural network to restore the feature maps to their original image size. To improve training efficiency, a combination of pre-training and an enhanced stochastic gradient descent method was utilized.

Results

The experimental results highlight the effectiveness of the proposed method for spine image segmentation using Gadolinium-enhanced T1 MRI. This approach not only delivers high accuracy but also offers real-time performance. The innovative model attained impressive metrics, achieving 90.6% precision, 91.1% recall, 93.2% accuracy, 91.3% F1-score, 83.8% Intersection over Union (IoU), and 91.1% Dice Coefficient (DC). These results indicate that the proposed method can accurately segment spine tumors CT images, addressing the limitations of traditional segmentation algorithms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study introduces a fully automated segmentation method for spine MRI images utilizing a convolutional neural network, enhanced by the application of the PE-module. By utilizing a patch extraction based neural network (PENN) deep learning techniques, the proposed method effectively addresses the deficiencies of traditional algorithms and achieves accurate and real-time spine MRI image segmentation.