Automated deep learning pipeline for callosal angle quantification.

backgroundNormal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a potentially treatable neurodegenerative disorder that remains underdiagnosed due to its clinical overlap with other conditions and the labor-intensive nature of manual imaging analyses. Imaging biomarkers, such as the callosal angle (CA), Evans Index (EI), and Disproportionately Enlarged Subarachnoid Space Hydrocephalus (DESH), play a crucial role in NPH diagnosis but are often limited by subjective interpretations. To address these challenges, we developed a fully automated and robust deep learning framework for measuring the CA directly from raw T1 MPRAGE scans.

methodsOur method integrates two complementary modules. First, a BrainSignsNET model is employed to accurately detect key anatomical landmarks, notably the anterior commissure (AC) and posterior commissure (PC). Preprocessed 3D MRI scans, reoriented to the Right Anterior Superior (RAS) system and resized to standardized cubes while preserving aspect ratios, serve as input for landmark localization. After detecting these landmarks, a coronal slice, perpendicular to the AC-PC line at the PC level, is extracted for subsequent analysis. Second, a UNet-based segmentation network, featuring a pretrained EfficientNetB0 encoder, generates multiclass masks of the lateral ventricles from the coronal slices which then used for calculation of the CA.

resultsTraining and internal validation were performed using datasets from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) and BIOCARD, while external validation utilized 376 clinical MRI scans from Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital, as well as PENS trial. Our framework achieved high concordance with manual measurements, demonstrating a strong correlation (r = 0.98, p < 0.001) and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 3.26 (SD 1.89) degrees. Moreover, error analysis confirmed that CA measurement performance was independent of patient age, gender, and EI, underscoring the broad applicability of this method.

conclusionsThese results indicate that our fully automated CA measurement framework is a reliable and reproducible alternative to manual methods, outperforms reported interobserver variability in assessing the CA, and offers significant potential to enhance early detection and diagnosis of NPH in both research and clinical settings.