Radiomics workflow definition & challenges - German priority program 2177 consensus statement on clinically applied...

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging Informatics
• Radiomics Research
• Clinical Workflow Standardization

Background:

• Published radiomics workflow terminologies exhibit inconsistencies, hindering standardization and clinical translation.
• Lack of standardized definitions is a major obstacle for the successful clinical adoption of radiomics.
• Existing definitions lack a consensus, impeding reproducible research and widespread clinical implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To achieve expert consensus on a definition for radiomics workflows, supporting clinical translation.
• To identify and assess expert perspectives on critical challenges for implementing radiomics in clinical settings.
• To establish a standardized terminology for radiomics studies.

Main Methods:

• A multi-stage consensus process involving definition screening, semantic mapping of 22 workflow definitions, and a Delphi process with over 45 experts.
• Retrospective analysis of 69 definition terms extracted from publications (2012-2020) to resolve semantic ambiguities.
• Utilized a Delphi process with experts from the German Research Foundation (DFG) Priority Program 2177 to refine definitions and identify translational challenges.

Main Results:

• A consensus definition for radiomics workflows, comprising seven phases and 37 aspects, was developed with high expert agreement (>89%).
• Semantic ambiguities in 69 extracted terms were identified and resolved, leading to a standardized terminology.
• Ten key challenges for clinical radiomics implementation were identified and characterized from expert perspectives.

Conclusions:

• A consensus-based radiomics workflow definition and term mapping were compiled to address semantic inconsistencies and provide a reference terminology.
• The study highlights critical challenges hindering the clinical application of radiomics, offering insights for future development.
• Publicly available resources from this consensus effort can support the scientific community in advancing radiomics research and clinical integration.