Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 24, 2025
04:48
Application of Deep Learning-Based Medical Image Segmentation via Orbital Computed Tomography
Published on: November 30, 2022
2.9K
A Deep Learning Network for Classifying Arteries and Veins in Montaged Widefield OCT Angiograms
Min Gao1, Yukun Guo1, Tristan T Hormel1
1Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
Ophthalmology Science
|October 24, 2022
Summary
A new deep learning method, CAVnet, accurately differentiates arteries and veins in retinal OCT angiography images. This tool aids in analyzing vascular changes in diseases like diabetic retinopathy and vein occlusion.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
- Artificial Intelligence
Background:
- Accurate differentiation of retinal arteries and veins is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring various ocular diseases.
- Current methods for vessel segmentation in Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) can be labor-intensive and subjective.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a deep learning-based method, CAVnet, for automated classification of arteries and veins in widefield OCTA images.
- To assess the performance of CAVnet in segmenting retinal vasculature down to precapillary arterioles and postcapillary venules.
Main Methods:
- A convolutional neural network (CAVnet) was trained using 240 OCTA angiograms from 88 eyes and tested on 302 angiograms from 144 eyes.
- The method processes montaged widefield OCTA en face images to output segmented arteries and veins, including their intersections.
- Performance was evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, F1-score, and Intersection over Union (IoU) against manually graded ground truth.
Main Results:
- CAVnet achieved high accuracy in classifying arteries (95.3% sensitivity, 99.6% specificity, 94.2% F1-score, 89.3% IoU) and veins (94.4% sensitivity, 99.7% specificity, 94.1% F1-score, 89.2% IoU).
- The algorithm demonstrated robustness across different OCT instruments and scan sizes, with good performance in differentiating vessels in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) cases.
- Generated pixel-wise caliber and tortuosity maps revealed differences between healthy and diseased eyes, indicating clinical potential.
Conclusions:
- CAVnet effectively classifies retinal arteries and veins and their branches with high accuracy.
- The tool shows potential for analyzing vessel type-specific features in diseases like branch retinal artery occlusion and BRVO.
- Automated vessel classification and analysis using CAVnet could enhance clinical utility in ophthalmology.
Keywords:
BRVO, branch retinal vein occlusionCAVnet, classification of artery and vein networkCE, cross-entropyClassification of arteries and veinsDR, diabetic retinopathyDeep learningIoU, Intersection over UnionMeasurement of their caliber and tortuosityNPDR, nonproliferative diabetic retinopathyOCTA, OCT angiographyPDR, proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Related Concept Videos
01:19Imaging Studies VII: Vascular Imaging
46
DefinitionRenal angiography, also known as renal arteriography, is an imaging technique used to obtain a comprehensive view of blood flow and the vascular structure of blood vessels in the kidneys and surrounding areas.PurposeRenal angiography detects blood vessel abnormalities in the kidneys, such as aneurysms, stenosis, thrombosis, vascular tumors, and renal artery stenosis. It evaluates kidney function and guides interventional treatments like angioplasty or stent placement.Pre-Procedure...
46
01:20Anatomy of Blood Vessels
823
The vascular system, an integral part of the circulatory system, comprises various blood vessels that play crucial roles in maintaining the body's homeostasis. These blood vessels form a complex and efficient circulatory network. The three primary categories of blood vessels are the arteries, veins, and capillaries.
Arteries
Arteries circulate oxygenated blood from the heart, except the pulmonary artery, which transports deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Large arteries, such as the aorta,...
Arteries
Arteries circulate oxygenated blood from the heart, except the pulmonary artery, which transports deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Large arteries, such as the aorta,...
823
01:17Veins of Upper Limbs
1.6K
The human circulatory system, a marvel of biological engineering, is a complex network of vessels that transport blood throughout the body. Among these, the veins responsible for carrying blood from the upper limbs are divided into two categories: deep and superficial.
The deep venous system is primarily composed of the ulnar and radial veins. The ulnar vein, which drains the fingers through the superficial palmar venous arches, and the radial vein, which serves the palms via the deep palmar...
The deep venous system is primarily composed of the ulnar and radial veins. The ulnar vein, which drains the fingers through the superficial palmar venous arches, and the radial vein, which serves the palms via the deep palmar...
1.6K
01:19Veins of Head and Neck
2.5K
The blood drainage from the head and neck is primarily managed by three pairs of veins: the external jugular, internal jugular, and vertebral veins. The external jugular veins drain superficial scalp and face structures, passing over the sternocleidomastoid muscles to empty into the subclavian veins.
On the other hand, the vertebral veins, unlike their arterial counterparts, are not primarily responsible for brain drainage. Instead, they drain the cervical vertebrae, spinal cord, and some small...
On the other hand, the vertebral veins, unlike their arterial counterparts, are not primarily responsible for brain drainage. Instead, they drain the cervical vertebrae, spinal cord, and some small...
2.5K
01:15Veins of Lower Limbs
1.2K
The human body consists of an intricate network of veins responsible for the crucial task of blood drainage from the lower limbs. These veins can be categorized into two main types: deep veins and superficial veins.
Formed by the union of the medial and lateral plantar veins, the posterior tibial vein, rising through the calf muscle, assimilates the fibular vein. The anterior tibial vein, a superior extension of the foot's dorsalis pedis vein, merges with the posterior tibial vein at the...
Formed by the union of the medial and lateral plantar veins, the posterior tibial vein, rising through the calf muscle, assimilates the fibular vein. The anterior tibial vein, a superior extension of the foot's dorsalis pedis vein, merges with the posterior tibial vein at the...
1.2K
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
62
Cardiac computed tomography (CT) scanning is an advanced cardiac imaging technique that utilizes CT technology, with or without intravenous (IV) contrast, to produce accurate cross-sectional virtual slices of specific areas of the heart, coronary circulation, and major blood vessels such as the aorta, pulmonary veins, and arteries. The computer processes these slices to generate three-dimensional images. Multidetector CT (MDCT) is a rapid form of CT scanning that captures multiple slices...
62