Whole-body Composition Profiling Using a Deep Learning Algorithm: Influence of Different Acquisition Parameters on Algorithm Performance and Robustness.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES\nTo develop, test, and validate a body composition profiling algorithm for automated segmentation of body compartments in whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (wbMRI) and to investigate the influence of different acquisition parameters on performance and robustness.\n\n\nMATERIALS AND METHODS\nA segmentation algorithm for subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (SCAT and VAT) and total muscle mass (TMM) was designed using a deep learning U-net architecture convolutional neuronal network. Twenty clinical wbMRI scans were manually segmented and used as training, validation, and test datasets. Segmentation performance was then tested on different data, including different magnetic resonance imaging protocols and scanners with and without use of contrast media. Test-retest reliability on 2 consecutive scans of 16 healthy volunteers each as well as impact of parameters slice thickness, matrix resolution, and different coil settings were investigated. Sorensen-Dice coefficient (DSC) was used to measure the algorithms performance with manual segmentations as reference standards. Test-retest reliability and parameter effects were investigated comparing respective compartment volumes. Abdominal volumes were compared with published normative values.\n\n\nRESULTS\nAlgorithm performance measured by DSC was 0.93 (SCAT) to 0.77 (VAT) using the test dataset. Dependent from the respective compartment, similar or slightly reduced performance was seen for other scanners and scan protocols (DSC ranging from 0.69-0.72 for VAT to 0.83-0.91 for SCAT). No significant differences in body composition profiling was seen on repetitive volunteer scans (P = 0.88-1) or after variation of protocol parameters (P = 0.07-1).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nBody composition profiling from wbMRI by using a deep learning-based convolutional neuronal network algorithm for automated segmentation of body compartments is generally possible. First results indicate that robust and reproducible segmentations equally accurate to a manual expert may be expected also for a range of different acquisition parameters.