Deep learning-based automatic detection and grading of disk herniation in lumbar magnetic resonance images

Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine is a key technique for clarifying the cause of disease. The greatest challenges today are the repetitive and time-consuming process of interpreting these complex MR images and the problem of unequal diagnostic results from physicians with diffe...

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Main Authors: Yan Guo, Xiaoxiang Huang, Wei Chen, Ichiro Nakamoto, Weiqing Zhuang, Hua Chen, Jie Feng, Jianfeng Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10401-7
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author Yan Guo
Xiaoxiang Huang
Wei Chen
Ichiro Nakamoto
Weiqing Zhuang
Hua Chen
Jie Feng
Jianfeng Wu
author_facet Yan Guo
Xiaoxiang Huang
Wei Chen
Ichiro Nakamoto
Weiqing Zhuang
Hua Chen
Jie Feng
Jianfeng Wu
author_sort Yan Guo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine is a key technique for clarifying the cause of disease. The greatest challenges today are the repetitive and time-consuming process of interpreting these complex MR images and the problem of unequal diagnostic results from physicians with different levels of experience. To address these issues, in this study, an improved YOLOv8 model (GE-YOLOv8) that combines a gradient search module and efficient channel attention was developed. To address the difficulty of intervertebral disc feature extraction, the GS module was introduced into the backbone network, which enhances the feature learning ability for the key structures through the gradient splitting strategy, and the number of parameters was reduced by 2.1%. The ECA module optimizes the weights of the feature channels and enhances the sensitivity of detection for small-target lesions, and the mAP50 was improved by 4.4% compared with that of YOLOv8. GE-YOLOv8 demonstrated the significance of this innovation on the basis of a P value <.001, with YOLOv8 as the baseline. The experimental results on a dataset from the Pingtan Branch of Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University and an external test dataset show that the model has excellent accuracy.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-050c8012c3314793ba14293cd80f2d5b2025-08-20T03:42:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-10401-7Deep learning-based automatic detection and grading of disk herniation in lumbar magnetic resonance imagesYan Guo0Xiaoxiang Huang1Wei Chen2Ichiro Nakamoto3Weiqing Zhuang4Hua Chen5Jie Feng6Jianfeng Wu7School of Internet Economics and Business, Fujian University of TechnologySchool of Internet Economics and Business, Fujian University of TechnologySchool of Internet Economics and Business, Fujian University of TechnologySchool of Internet Economics and Business, Fujian University of TechnologySchool of Internet Economics and Business, Fujian University of TechnologyDepartment of Radiology, Pingtan Comprehensive Experimentation Area HospitalDepartment of Radiology, Pingtan Comprehensive Experimentation Area HospitalDepartment of Neurosurgery, Fujian Medical University Union HospitalAbstract Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine is a key technique for clarifying the cause of disease. The greatest challenges today are the repetitive and time-consuming process of interpreting these complex MR images and the problem of unequal diagnostic results from physicians with different levels of experience. To address these issues, in this study, an improved YOLOv8 model (GE-YOLOv8) that combines a gradient search module and efficient channel attention was developed. To address the difficulty of intervertebral disc feature extraction, the GS module was introduced into the backbone network, which enhances the feature learning ability for the key structures through the gradient splitting strategy, and the number of parameters was reduced by 2.1%. The ECA module optimizes the weights of the feature channels and enhances the sensitivity of detection for small-target lesions, and the mAP50 was improved by 4.4% compared with that of YOLOv8. GE-YOLOv8 demonstrated the significance of this innovation on the basis of a P value <.001, with YOLOv8 as the baseline. The experimental results on a dataset from the Pingtan Branch of Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University and an external test dataset show that the model has excellent accuracy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10401-7Lumbar spine symptomsYOLOv8Magnetic resonance imagingMSUGradient shunt
spellingShingle Yan Guo
Xiaoxiang Huang
Wei Chen
Ichiro Nakamoto
Weiqing Zhuang
Hua Chen
Jie Feng
Jianfeng Wu
Deep learning-based automatic detection and grading of disk herniation in lumbar magnetic resonance images
Scientific Reports
Lumbar spine symptoms
YOLOv8
Magnetic resonance imaging
MSU
Gradient shunt
title Deep learning-based automatic detection and grading of disk herniation in lumbar magnetic resonance images
title_full Deep learning-based automatic detection and grading of disk herniation in lumbar magnetic resonance images
title_fullStr Deep learning-based automatic detection and grading of disk herniation in lumbar magnetic resonance images
title_full_unstemmed Deep learning-based automatic detection and grading of disk herniation in lumbar magnetic resonance images
title_short Deep learning-based automatic detection and grading of disk herniation in lumbar magnetic resonance images
title_sort deep learning based automatic detection and grading of disk herniation in lumbar magnetic resonance images
topic Lumbar spine symptoms
YOLOv8
Magnetic resonance imaging
MSU
Gradient shunt
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10401-7
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