Comparing bone shape models from deep learning processing of magnetic resonance imaging to computed tomography-based models.

Background: The purpose of this study was to develop a deep learning approach to automatically segment the scapular bone on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images and to compare the accuracy of these three-dimensional (3D) models with that of 3D computed tomography (CT).

Methods: Fifty-five patients with high-resolution 3D fat-saturated T2 MRI were retrospectively identified. The underlying pathology included rotator cuff tendinopathy and tears, shoulder instability, and impingement. Two experienced musculoskeletal researchers manually segmented the scapular bone. Five cross-validation training and validation splits were generated to independently train two-dimensional (2D) and 3D models using a convolutional neural network approach. Model performance was evaluated using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). All models with DSC > 0.70 were ensembled and used for the test set, which consisted of four patients with matching high-resolution MRI and CT scans. Clinically relevant glenoid measurements, including glenoid height, width, and retroversion, were calculated for two of the patients. Paired -tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare the DSC of the models.

Results: The 2D and 3D models achieved a best DSC of 0.86 and 0.82, respectively, with no significant difference observed. Augmentation of imaging data significantly improved 3D but not 2D model performance. In comparing clinical measurements of 3D MRI and CT, there was a mean difference ranging from 1.29 mm to 3.46 mm and 0.05° to 7.47°.

Conclusion: We have presented a fully automatic, deep learning-based strategy for extracting scapular shape from a high-resolution MRI scan. Further developments of this technology have the potential to allow for surgeons to obtain all clinically relevant information from MRI scans and reduce the need for multiple imaging studies for patients with shoulder pathology.