Future Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm Growth Prediction using Mesh Convolutional Neural Networks

TL;DR

This study explores using a mesh convolutional neural network with surface topology features to predict the future growth of unruptured intracranial aneurysms from baseline MRI scans, aiding in clinical decision-making.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of mesh CNNs with shape features for UIA growth prediction from baseline imaging data.

Findings

Model achieved an AUC of 63.8% for growth prediction.

Including edge mid-point coordinates improved model performance.

The approach shows promise for future UIA growth prediction.

Abstract

The growth of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) is a predictor of rupture. Therefore, for further imaging surveillance and treatment planning, it is important to be able to predict if an UIA is likely to grow based on an initial baseline Time-of-Flight MRA (TOF-MRA). It is known that the size and shape of UIAs are predictors of aneurysm growth and/or rupture. We perform a feasibility study of using a mesh convolutional neural network for future UIA growth prediction from baseline TOF-MRAs. We include 151 TOF-MRAs, with 169 UIAs where 49 UIAs were classified as growing and 120 as stable, based on the clinical definition of growth (>1 mm increase in size in follow-up scan). UIAs were segmented from TOF-MRAs and meshes were automatically generated. We investigate the input of both UIA mesh only and region-of-interest (ROI) meshes including UIA and surrounding parent vessels. We develop a classification model to predict UIAs that will grow or remain stable. The model consisted of a mesh convolutional neural network including additional novel input edge features of shape index and curvedness which describe the surface topology. It was investigated if input edge mid-point co-ordinates influenced the model performance. The model with highest AUC (63.8%) for growth prediction was using UIA meshes with input edge mid-point co-ordinate features (average F1 score = 62.3%, accuracy = 66.9%, sensitivity = 57.3%, specificity = 70.8%). We present a future UIA growth prediction model based on a mesh convolutional neural network with promising results.