AI-based pulmonary artery to ascending aorta ratio on non-contrast CT for pulmonary hypertension: diameter vs. volume assessment

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of a deep learning (DL) model for quantifying the pulmonary artery (PA) and ascending aorta (AAo) diameters and volumes on non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scans for detecting pulmonary hypertension (PH).

The PA and AAo were segmented using a validated DL model on non-contrast CT scans. PA/AAo ratios were quantified using diameter and volume measurements. Testing was performed using two independent patient cohorts. A first cohort (n = 97) was used to compare DL-derived and manual diameter-based PA/AAo ratios and to evaluate their diagnostic accuracy against right heart catheterization (RHC). A second cohort (n = 425; 385 internal and 40 external patients) was then used to compare the diagnostic performance of the DL-derived diameter- and volume-based PA/AAo ratios using RHC as the reference standard. In the first cohort, 97 patients were included (mean age 63 ± 13 years, 50% female, and 62 patients with PH). Agreement with the diameter-based approach was good [Observer 1: intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.79 (0.70–0.85); Observer 2: ICC = 0.79 (0.70–0.86)]. Agreement with volume-based PA/AAo ratio was moderate [Observer 1: ICC = 0.56 (0.41–0.68); Observer 2: ICC = 0.55 (0.39–0.67)]. The DL diameter-based (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.83) and volume-based (AUC = 0.84) PA/AAo ratio outperformed the manual measurements by Observer 1 (AUC=0.72) and Observer 2 (AUC = 0.74). The second cohort comprised 425 patients (385 internal and 40 external), with a mean age of 65 ± 12 years, 60% female, and 353 patients with PH. The volume-based approach achieved superior diagnostic accuracy compared with the diameter-based approach (AUC 0.85 vs. 0.73), with higher sensitivity (66% vs. 41%) and specificity (89% vs. 82%).

The PA/AAo volume ratio on non-contrast CT demonstrates high diagnostic accuracy for detecting PH and could assist with opportunistic detection of PH in patients undergoing routine chest imaging.