A deep convolutional neural network-based automatic delineation strategy for multiple brain metastases stereotactic radiosurgery

PLoS One. 2017 Oct 6;12(10):e0185844. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185844. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Accurate and automatic brain metastases target delineation is a key step for efficient and effective stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treatment planning. In this work, we developed a deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm for segmenting brain metastases on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) datasets. We integrated the CNN-based algorithm into an automatic brain metastases segmentation workflow and validated on both Multimodal Brain Tumor Image Segmentation challenge (BRATS) data and clinical patients' data. Validation on BRATS data yielded average DICE coefficients (DCs) of 0.75±0.07 in the tumor core and 0.81±0.04 in the enhancing tumor, which outperformed most techniques in the 2015 BRATS challenge. Segmentation results of patient cases showed an average of DCs 0.67±0.03 and achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.98±0.01. The developed automatic segmentation strategy surpasses current benchmark levels and offers a promising tool for SRS treatment planning for multiple brain metastases.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / surgery*
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Neural Networks, Computer*
  • Radiosurgery / methods*
  • Stereotaxic Techniques*

Grants and funding

This work is supported by China Scholarship Council, Grant No.201406245043. http://en.csc.edu.cn/. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.