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AI-Powered MRI Radiomics and Deep Learning for Preoperative Prediction of Cavernous Sinus Invasion in Pituitary
Farzan Asadirad1, Mohammad Rezaei2, Parna Ghannadikhosh1
1Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Background:
Pituitary adenomas represent one of the most common intracranial tumors, and cavernous sinus invasion (CSI remains a major challenge for surgical management. Although the Knosp grading system provides a widely used radiological framework, its subjective nature and inter-observer variability limit diagnostic reliability. In recent years, advanced computational methods have been investigated to improve the preoperative prediction of invasion.
Objective:
This review synthesizes current evidence on the use of radiomics, machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) approaches in the detection and assessment of CSI in pituitary adenomas, with particular emphasis on their comparative performance against traditional imaging methods.
Methods:
Studies employing MRI-based radiomic feature extraction, ML classifiers, and convolutional neural networks were analyzed. Reported models commonly incorporated intensity, texture, and shape descriptors, or applied end-to-end DL architectures for automated prediction. Performance metrics such as accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, AUC, and Dice similarity coefficients were compared across studies, with Knosp grade serving as a frequent benchmark.
Results:
Evidence suggests that ML and DL models consistently outperform conventional MRI interpretation in predicting CSI. Radiomics pipelines integrating quantitative imaging features with clinical variables achieved high diagnostic accuracy, while CNN-based models trained on contrast-enhanced MRI often exceeded AUC values of 0.85. Furthermore, automated segmentation frameworks demonstrated reliable delineation of tumor boundaries, facilitating improved assessment of invasive behavior. Despite promising outcomes, limitations such as small sample sizes, single-center designs, and lack of external validation restrict broad clinical adoption.
Conclusions:
Radiomics and AI-driven approaches show substantial potential for enhancing preoperative evaluation of pituitary adenomas with CSI. Standardized imaging protocols, multicenter collaborations, and transparent model validation are essential for future integration into neurosurgical decision-making.
