Context-aware convolutional neural networks for stroke sign detection in non-contrast CT scans

Abstract

Detection of acute stroke signs in non-contrast CT images is a challenging task. The intensity and texture variations in pathological regions are subtle and can be confounded by normal physiological changes or by old lesions. In this paper we investigate the use of contextual information for stroke sign detection. In particular, the appearance of the contralateral anatomy and the atlas-encoded spatial location are incorporated into a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture. CNNs are trained separately for the detection of dense vessels and of ischaemia. The network performance is evaluated on 170 datasets by cross-validation. We find that atlas location is important for dense vessel detection, but is less useful for ischaemia, whereas bilateral comparison is crucial for detection of ischaemia.