Automatic Body Region Classification in CT Scans Using Deep Learning

Accurate classification of anatomical regions in computed tomography (CT) scans is essential for optimizing downstream diagnostic and analytic workflows in medical imaging. We demonstrate the high performance that deep learning (DL) algorithms can achieve in the classification of whole-body parts in CT images acquired under various protocols. Our model was trained using a dataset consisting of 5485 anonymized neuroimaging informatics technology initiative (NIFTI) CT scans collected from 45 different health centers. The dataset was split into 3290 scans for training, 1097 scans for validation, and 1098 scans for testing. Each body CT scan was classified into six distinct classes covering the whole body: chest, abdomen, pelvis, chest and abdomen, abdomen and pelvis, and chest and abdomen and pelvis. The performance of the DL model stood at an accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score of 97.53% (95% CI: 96.62%, 98.45%), 97.56% (95% CI: 96.6%, 98.4%), 97.6% (95% CI: 96.7%, 98.5%), and 97.56% (96.6%, 98.4%), respectively, in identifying different body parts. These findings demonstrate the strength of our approach in annotating CT images through a wide variation in both acquisition protocols and patient demographics. This study underlines the potential that DL holds for medical imaging and, in particular, for the automation of body region classification in CT. Our findings confirm that these models could be implemented in clinical routines to improve diagnostic efficiency and harmony.