Cnv-Net: Segmentation, Classification and Activity Score Measurement of Choroidal Neovascularization (Cnv) Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (Octa) Publisher



Vali M¹ ; Nazari B¹ ; Sadri S¹ ; Pour EK² ; Riaziesfahani H² ; Faghihi H² ; Ebrahimiadib N² ; Azizkhani M² ; Innes W³ ; Steel DH⁴ ; Hurlbert A⁵ ; Read JCA⁵ ; Kafieh R^{6, 7} Show Affiliations
Source: Diagnostics Published:2023

Abstract

This paper aims to present an artificial intelligence-based algorithm for the automated segmentation of Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV) areas and to identify the presence or absence of CNV activity criteria (branching, peripheral arcade, dark halo, shape, loop and anastomoses) in OCTA images. Methods: This retrospective and cross-sectional study includes 130 OCTA images from 101 patients with treatment-naive CNV. At baseline, OCTA volumes of 6 × 6 mm2 were obtained to develop an AI-based algorithm to evaluate the CNV activity based on five activity criteria, including tiny branching vessels, anastomoses and loops, peripheral arcades, and perilesional hypointense halos. The proposed algorithm comprises two steps. The first block includes the pre-processing and segmentation of CNVs in OCTA images using a modified U-Net network. The second block consists of five binary classification networks, each implemented with various models from scratch, and using transfer learning from pre-trained networks. Results: The proposed segmentation network yielded an averaged Dice coefficient of 0.86. The individual classifiers corresponding to the five activity criteria (branch, peripheral arcade, dark halo, shape, loop, and anastomoses) showed accuracies of 0.84, 0.81, 0.86, 0.85, and 0.82, respectively. The AI-based algorithm potentially allows the reliable detection and segmentation of CNV from OCTA alone, without the need for imaging with contrast agents. The evaluation of the activity criteria in CNV lesions obtains acceptable results, and this algorithm could enable the objective, repeatable assessment of CNV features. © 2023 by the authors.