Deep learning-based segmentation of abdominal aortic aneurysms and intraluminal thrombus in 3D ultrasound images

Ultrasound (US)-based patient-specific rupture risk analysis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) has shown promising results. Input for these models is the patient-specific geometry of the AAA. However, segmentation of the intraluminal thrombus (ILT) remains challenging in US images due to the low ILT-blood contrast. This study aims to improve AAA and ILT segmentation in time-resolved three-dimensional (3D + t) US images using a deep learning approach. In this study a “no new net” (nnU-Net) model was trained on 3D + t US data using either US-based or (co-registered) computed tomography (CT)-based annotations. The optimal training strategy for this low-contrast data was determined for a limited dataset. The merit of augmentation was investigated, as well as the inclusion of low-contrast areas. Segmentation results were validated with CT-based geometries as the ground truth. The model trained on CT-based masks showed the best performance in terms of DICE index, Hausdorff distance, and diameter differences, covering a larger part of the AAA. With a higher accuracy and less manual input the model outperforms conventional methods, with a mean Hausdorff distance of 4.4 mm for the vessel and 7.8 mm for the lumen. However, visibility of the lumen-ILT interface remains the limiting factor, necessitating improvements in image acquisition to ensure broader patient inclusion and enable rupture risk assessment of AAAs in the future. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)