Evaluation of AI-Powered Routine Screening of Clinically Acquired cMRIs for Incidental Intracranial Aneurysms

<b>Objectives</b>: To quantify the clinical value of integrating a commercially available artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for intracranial aneurysm detection in a screening setting that utilizes cranial magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) scans acquired primarily for other clinical...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Christina Carina Schmidt, Robert Stahl, Franziska Mueller, Thomas David Fischer, Robert Forbrig, Christian Brem, Hakan Isik, Klaus Seelos, Niklas Thon, Sophia Stoecklein, Thomas Liebig, Johannes Rueckel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Diagnostics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/3/254
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849717647455813632
author Christina Carina Schmidt
Robert Stahl
Franziska Mueller
Thomas David Fischer
Robert Forbrig
Christian Brem
Hakan Isik
Klaus Seelos
Niklas Thon
Sophia Stoecklein
Thomas Liebig
Johannes Rueckel
author_facet Christina Carina Schmidt
Robert Stahl
Franziska Mueller
Thomas David Fischer
Robert Forbrig
Christian Brem
Hakan Isik
Klaus Seelos
Niklas Thon
Sophia Stoecklein
Thomas Liebig
Johannes Rueckel
author_sort Christina Carina Schmidt
collection DOAJ
description <b>Objectives</b>: To quantify the clinical value of integrating a commercially available artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for intracranial aneurysm detection in a screening setting that utilizes cranial magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) scans acquired primarily for other clinical purposes. <b>Methods</b>: A total of 907 consecutive cMRI datasets, including time-of-flight-angiography (TOF-MRA), were retrospectively identified from patients unaware of intracranial aneurysms. cMRIs were analyzed by a commercial AI algorithm and reassessed by consultant-level neuroradiologists, who provided confidence scores and workup recommendations for suspicious findings. Patients with newly identified findings (relative to initial cMRI reports) were contacted for on-site consultations, including cMRI follow-up or catheter angiography. The number needed to screen (NNS) was defined as the cMRI quantity that must undergo AI screening to achieve various clinical endpoints. <b>Results</b>: The algorithm demonstrates high sensitivities (100% for findings >4 mm in diameter), a 17.8% MRA alert rate and positive predictive values of 11.5–43.8% (depending on whether inconclusive findings are considered or not). Initial cMRI reports missed 50 out of 59 suspicious findings, including 13 certain intradural aneurysms. The NNS for additionally identifying highly suspicious and therapeutically relevant (unruptured intracranial aneurysm treatment scores balanced or in favor of treatment) findings was 152. The NNS for recommending additional follow-/workup imaging (cMRI or catheter angiography) was 26, suggesting an additional up to 4% increase in imaging procedures resulting from a preceding AI screening. <b>Conclusions</b>: AI-powered routine screening of cMRIs clearly lowers the high risk of incidental aneurysm non-reporting but results in a substantial burden of additional imaging follow-up for minor or inconclusive findings.
format Article
id doaj-art-bf9bed7d4c7d49a3a2af15a7352a381e
institution DOAJ
issn 2075-4418
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Diagnostics
spelling doaj-art-bf9bed7d4c7d49a3a2af15a7352a381e2025-08-20T03:12:35ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-01-0115325410.3390/diagnostics15030254Evaluation of AI-Powered Routine Screening of Clinically Acquired cMRIs for Incidental Intracranial AneurysmsChristina Carina Schmidt0Robert Stahl1Franziska Mueller2Thomas David Fischer3Robert Forbrig4Christian Brem5Hakan Isik6Klaus Seelos7Niklas Thon8Sophia Stoecklein9Thomas Liebig10Johannes Rueckel11Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyInstitute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyDepartment of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyInstitute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyInstitute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyInstitute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyInstitute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyInstitute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyDepartment of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyInstitute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, GermanyInstitute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany<b>Objectives</b>: To quantify the clinical value of integrating a commercially available artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for intracranial aneurysm detection in a screening setting that utilizes cranial magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) scans acquired primarily for other clinical purposes. <b>Methods</b>: A total of 907 consecutive cMRI datasets, including time-of-flight-angiography (TOF-MRA), were retrospectively identified from patients unaware of intracranial aneurysms. cMRIs were analyzed by a commercial AI algorithm and reassessed by consultant-level neuroradiologists, who provided confidence scores and workup recommendations for suspicious findings. Patients with newly identified findings (relative to initial cMRI reports) were contacted for on-site consultations, including cMRI follow-up or catheter angiography. The number needed to screen (NNS) was defined as the cMRI quantity that must undergo AI screening to achieve various clinical endpoints. <b>Results</b>: The algorithm demonstrates high sensitivities (100% for findings >4 mm in diameter), a 17.8% MRA alert rate and positive predictive values of 11.5–43.8% (depending on whether inconclusive findings are considered or not). Initial cMRI reports missed 50 out of 59 suspicious findings, including 13 certain intradural aneurysms. The NNS for additionally identifying highly suspicious and therapeutically relevant (unruptured intracranial aneurysm treatment scores balanced or in favor of treatment) findings was 152. The NNS for recommending additional follow-/workup imaging (cMRI or catheter angiography) was 26, suggesting an additional up to 4% increase in imaging procedures resulting from a preceding AI screening. <b>Conclusions</b>: AI-powered routine screening of cMRIs clearly lowers the high risk of incidental aneurysm non-reporting but results in a substantial burden of additional imaging follow-up for minor or inconclusive findings.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/3/254artificial intelligenceintracranial aneurysmsMRIscreeningTOF-MRA
spellingShingle Christina Carina Schmidt
Robert Stahl
Franziska Mueller
Thomas David Fischer
Robert Forbrig
Christian Brem
Hakan Isik
Klaus Seelos
Niklas Thon
Sophia Stoecklein
Thomas Liebig
Johannes Rueckel
Evaluation of AI-Powered Routine Screening of Clinically Acquired cMRIs for Incidental Intracranial Aneurysms
Diagnostics
artificial intelligence
intracranial aneurysms
MRI
screening
TOF-MRA
title Evaluation of AI-Powered Routine Screening of Clinically Acquired cMRIs for Incidental Intracranial Aneurysms
title_full Evaluation of AI-Powered Routine Screening of Clinically Acquired cMRIs for Incidental Intracranial Aneurysms
title_fullStr Evaluation of AI-Powered Routine Screening of Clinically Acquired cMRIs for Incidental Intracranial Aneurysms
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of AI-Powered Routine Screening of Clinically Acquired cMRIs for Incidental Intracranial Aneurysms
title_short Evaluation of AI-Powered Routine Screening of Clinically Acquired cMRIs for Incidental Intracranial Aneurysms
title_sort evaluation of ai powered routine screening of clinically acquired cmris for incidental intracranial aneurysms
topic artificial intelligence
intracranial aneurysms
MRI
screening
TOF-MRA
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/3/254
work_keys_str_mv AT christinacarinaschmidt evaluationofaipoweredroutinescreeningofclinicallyacquiredcmrisforincidentalintracranialaneurysms
AT robertstahl evaluationofaipoweredroutinescreeningofclinicallyacquiredcmrisforincidentalintracranialaneurysms
AT franziskamueller evaluationofaipoweredroutinescreeningofclinicallyacquiredcmrisforincidentalintracranialaneurysms
AT thomasdavidfischer evaluationofaipoweredroutinescreeningofclinicallyacquiredcmrisforincidentalintracranialaneurysms
AT robertforbrig evaluationofaipoweredroutinescreeningofclinicallyacquiredcmrisforincidentalintracranialaneurysms
AT christianbrem evaluationofaipoweredroutinescreeningofclinicallyacquiredcmrisforincidentalintracranialaneurysms
AT hakanisik evaluationofaipoweredroutinescreeningofclinicallyacquiredcmrisforincidentalintracranialaneurysms
AT klausseelos evaluationofaipoweredroutinescreeningofclinicallyacquiredcmrisforincidentalintracranialaneurysms
AT niklasthon evaluationofaipoweredroutinescreeningofclinicallyacquiredcmrisforincidentalintracranialaneurysms
AT sophiastoecklein evaluationofaipoweredroutinescreeningofclinicallyacquiredcmrisforincidentalintracranialaneurysms
AT thomasliebig evaluationofaipoweredroutinescreeningofclinicallyacquiredcmrisforincidentalintracranialaneurysms
AT johannesrueckel evaluationofaipoweredroutinescreeningofclinicallyacquiredcmrisforincidentalintracranialaneurysms