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Improving Glioblastoma Classification Using Quantitative Transport Mapping with a Synthetic Data Trained Deep Neural Network

Romano, D. J.; Roberts, A. G.; Weppner, B.; Zhang, Q.; John, M.; Hu, R.; Sisman, M.; Kovanlikaya, I.; Chiang, G. C.; Spincemaille, P.; Wang, Y.

2026-04-01 radiology and imaging
10.64898/2026.03.31.26349864 medRxiv
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Purpose: To develop a deep neural network-based, AIF-free, perfusion estimation method (QTMnet) for improved performance on glioma classification. Methods: A globally defined arterial input function (AIF) is needed to recover perfusion parameters in the two-compartment exchange model (2CXM). We have developed Quantitative Transport Mapping (QTM) to create an AIF-independent estimation method. QTM estimation can be formulated using deep neural networks trained on synthetic DCE-MRI data (QTMnet). Here, we provide a fluid mechanics-based DCE-MRI simulation with exchange between the capillaries and extravascular extracellular space. We implemented tumor ROI generation to morphologically characterize tissue perfusion. We compared our QTMnet implementation with 2CXM on 30 glioma human subjects, 15 of which had low-grade gliomas, and 15 with high-grade glioblastomas. Results: QTMnet outperforms (best AUC: 0.973) traditional 2CXM (best AUC: 0.911) in a glioma grading task. Conclusion: The AIF-independent QTMnet estimation provides a quantitative delineation between low-grade and high-grade gliomas.

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