• Kerem Nernekli, Amit R Persad, Yusuke S Hori, Ulas Yener, Emrah Celtikci, Mustafa Caglar Sahin, Alperen Sozer, Batuhan Sozer, David J Park, and Steven D Chang.
• Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
• World Neurosurg. 2024 Aug 1; 188: 354435-44.

BackgroundVestibular schwannomas (VSs) are benign tumors often monitored over time, with measurement techniques for assessing growth rates subject to significant interobserver variability. Automatic segmentation of these tumors could provide a more reliable and efficient for tracking their progression, especially given the irregular shape and growth patterns of VS.MethodsVarious studies and segmentation techniques employing different Convolutional Neural Network architectures and models, such as U-Net and convolutional-attention transformer segmentation, were analyzed. Models were evaluated based on their performance across diverse datasets, and challenges, including domain shift and data sharing, were scrutinized.ResultsAutomatic segmentation methods offer a promising alternative to conventional measurement techniques, offering potential benefits in precision and efficiency. However, these methods are not without challenges, notably the "domain shift" that occurs when models trained on specific datasets underperform when applied to different datasets. Techniques such as domain adaptation, domain generalization, and data diversity were discussed as potential solutions.ConclusionsAccurate measurement of VS growth is a complex process, with volumetric analysis currently appearing more reliable than linear measurements. Automatic segmentation, despite its challenges, offers a promising avenue for future investigation. Robust well-generalized models could potentially improve the efficiency of tracking tumor growth, thereby augmenting clinical decision-making. Further work needs to be done to develop more robust models, address the domain shift, and enable secure data sharing for wider applicability.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

15 keywords...

hide…