# A multi-model fusion approach incorporating conventional radiological and machine learning features across age spectrum for periorbital fat status prediction

## TL;DR

This paper introduces an ensemble learning model that combines radiomics and machine learning features to predict periorbital fat status across different age groups using MRI data.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the development of an ensemble learning model that outperforms conventional and fusion models in predicting periorbital fat status across age groups.

## Key findings

- The ensemble model achieved an AUC-macro of 0.833 and an F1-score of 0.614 on the test set.
- The model demonstrated superior performance compared to CR, ML, and CR-ML fusion models.
- It provides a reliable non-invasive method for assessing periorbital fat status across the age spectrum.

## Abstract

To develop an ensemble learning model fusing conventional radiomics (CR) and machine learning (ML) features to assess periorbital fat status across the entire age spectrum.

Retrospective analysis was conducted on preoperative cranial and facial MRI data of meningioma patients. Patients were categorized into youth, middle-aged, and senior groups and allocated to training and test sets through stratified random sampling. CR and ML features of fat in three periorbital regions were extracted to develop an ensemble learning model, with its clinical application value subsequently evaluated.

237 patients were enrolled: 165 in the training set and 72 in the test set. The training set comprised 19 youth cases (28.5 ± 5.0, 7 male), 41 middle-aged cases (42.9 ± 4.7, 9 male), and 105 senior cases (60.0 ± 6.5, 26 male). The test set included 8 youth cases (28.6 ± 5.6, 4 male), 18 middle-aged cases (43.9 ± 4.1, 6 male), and 46 senior cases (58.8 ± 6.7, 10 male). The ensemble learning model outperformed the CR model, the ML model, and the CR-ML fusion model on the test set, achieving an AUC-macro of 0.833 (95% CI: 0.737–0.902), an F1-score of 0.614, an accuracy (Acc) of 0.597, and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.690. Ensemble learning models demonstrated optimal comprehensive capabilities in multi-classification tasks, enhancing generalization and robustness.

Our ensemble learning model achieved non-invasive and reliable assessment of periorbital fat status across the entire age spectrum, enriching the evaluation methodology for rejuvenation surgery.