Performance of Deep Learning Models for Automatic Histopathological Grading of Meningiomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Publisher



P Noori Mirtaheri PARSIA ; M Akhbari MATIN ; F Najafi FARNAZ ; H Mehrabi HODA ; A Babapour ALI ; Z Rahimian ZAHRA ; A Rigi AMIRHOSSEIN ; S Rahbarbaghbani SAEID ; H Mobaraki HESAM ; S Masoumi SANAZ
Source: Frontiers in Neurology Published:2025

Abstract

Background: Accurate preoperative grading of meningiomas is crucial for selecting the most suitable treatment strategies and predicting patient outcomes. Traditional MRI-based assessments are often insufficient to distinguish between low- and high-grade meningiomas reliably. Deep learning (DL) models have emerged as promising tools for automated histopathological grading using imaging data. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the diagnostic performance of deep learning (DL) models for meningioma grading. Methods: This study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-DTA guidelines and was prospectively registered on the Open Science Framework. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was performed up to March 2025. Studies using DL models to classify meningiomas based on imaging data were included. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). A bivariate random-effects model was used to fit the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and publication bias was evaluated using Egger's test. Results: Twenty-seven studies involving 13,130 patients were included. The pooled sensitivity was 92.31% (95% CI: 92.1–92.52%), specificity 95.3% (95% CI: 95.11–95.48%), and accuracy 97.97% (95% CI: 97.35–97.98%), with an AUC of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.96–0.98). The bivariate SROC curve demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance, characterized by a relatively narrow 95% confidence interval despite moderate to high heterogeneity (I2 = 79.7%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: DL models demonstrate high diagnostic accuracy for automatic meningioma grading and could serve as valuable clinical decision-support tools. Systematic review registration: DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/RXEBM © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.