MGACA-Net: a novel deep learning based multi-scale guided attention and context aggregation for localization of knee anterior cruciate ligament tears region in MRI images

Approaching expert-level accuracy for differentiating ACL tear types on MRI with deep learning

Treatment for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears depends on the condition of the ligament. We aimed to identify different tear statuses from preoperative MRI using deep learning-based radiomics with sex and age. We reviewed 862 patients with preoperative MRI scans reflecting ACL status from Hunan Provincial People's Hospital. Based on sagittal proton density-weighted images, a fully automated approach was developed that consisted of a deep learning model for segmenting ACL tissue (ACL-DNet) and a deep learning-based recognizer for ligament status classification (ACL-SNet). The efficacy of the proposed approach was evaluated by using the sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and compared with that of a group of three orthopedists in the holdout test set. The ACL-DNet model yielded a Dice coefficient of 98% ± 6% on the MRI datasets. Our proposed classification model yielded a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 97%. In comparison, the sensitivity of alternative models ranged from 84 to 90%, while the specificity was between 86 and 92%. The AUC of the ACL-SNet model was 99%, demonstrating high overall diagnostic accuracy. The diagnostic performance of the clinical experts as reflected in the AUC was 96%, 92% and 88%, respectively. The fully automated model shows potential as a highly reliable and reproducible tool that allows orthopedists to noninvasively identify the ACL status and may aid in optimizing different techniques, such as ACL remnant preservation, for ACL reconstruction.

A Pyramid Deep Feature Extraction Model for the Automatic Classification of Upper Extremity Fractures

The musculoskeletal system plays a crucial role in our daily lives, and the accurate diagnosis of musculoskeletal issues is essential for providing effective healthcare. However, the classification of musculoskeletal system radiographs is a complex task, requiring both accuracy and efficiency. This study addresses this challenge by introducing and evaluating a pyramid deep feature extraction model for the automatic classification of musculoskeletal system radiographs. The primary goal of this research is to develop a reliable and efficient solution to classify different upper extremity regions in musculoskeletal radiographs. To achieve this goal, we conducted an end-to-end training process using a pre-trained EfficientNet B0 convolutional neural network (CNN) model. This model was trained on a dataset of radiographic images that were divided into patches of various sizes, including 224 × 224, 112 × 112, 56 × 56, and 28 × 28. From the trained CNN model, we extracted a total of 85,000 features. These features were subsequently subjected to selection using the neighborhood component analysis (NCA) feature selection algorithm and then classified using a support vector machine (SVM). The results of our experiments are highly promising. The proposed model successfully classified various upper extremity regions with high accuracy rates: 92.04% for the elbow region, 91.19% for the finger region, 92.11% for the forearm region, 91.34% for the hand region, 91.35% for the humerus region, 89.49% for the shoulder region, and 92.63% for the wrist region. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of our deep feature extraction model as a potential auxiliary tool in the automatic analysis of musculoskeletal system radiographs. By automating the classification of musculoskeletal radiographs, our model has the potential to significantly accelerate clinical diagnostic processes and provide more precise results. This advancement in medical imaging technology can ultimately lead to better healthcare services for patients. However, future studies are crucial to further refine and test the model for practical clinical applications, ensuring that it integrates seamlessly into medical diagnosis and treatment processes, thus improving the overall quality of healthcare services.