AI-Based Gaze Deviation Detection to Aid LVO Diagnosis in NCCT

Strokes occur when blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. It is estimated that a patient can lose 1.9 million neurons each minute when a stroke is untreated. So, the treatment of stroke is a medical emergency that requires early intervention to minimize brain damage and complications. Furthermore, a stroke caused by emergent large vessel occlusion (LVO) requires a much more prompt identification to improve clinical outcomes.

Neuro interventionalists need to activate their operating rooms to prepare candidates identified for endovascular therapy (EVT) as soon as possible. As a result, identifying imaging findings on non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) that are predictive of LVO would aid in identifying potential EVT candidates. We present and validate gaze deviation as an indicator to detect LVO using NCCT. In addition, we offer an Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm to detect this indicator.

Large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke is caused by a blockage in one of the following brain vessels:

Large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke is caused by a blockage in one of the following brain vessels:

Image source: Science direct

LVO strokes are considered one of the more severe kinds of strokes, accounting for approximately 24% to 46% of acute ischemic strokes. For this reason, acute LVO stroke patients often need to be treated at comprehensive centers that are equipped to handle LVOs. 

EVT is a treatment given to patients with acute ischemic stroke. Using this treatment, clots in large vessels are removed, helping deliver better outcomes. EVT evaluation needs to be done at the earliest for the patients that meet the criteria and are eligible. Early access to EVT increases better outcomes for patients.  The timeframe to perform is usually between 16 – 24 hours in most acute ischemic cases.

GOAL OF EVT

Since it is important to perform this procedure as early as possible, how do we get there?

There is a 3 point step to consider for this:

Several studies suggest that gaze deviation is largely associated with the presence of LVO [1,2,3].

Stroke patients with eye deviation on admission CT have higher rates of disability/death and hemorrhagic transformation. Consistent assessment and documentation of radiological eye deviation on acute stroke CT scan may help with prognostication [4].

We developed an AI algorithm that reports the presence of gaze deviation given an NCCT scan. Such AI algorithms have tremendous potential to aid in this triage process. The AI algorithm was trained using a set of scans to identify gaze direction and midline of the brain. The gaze deviation is calculated by measuring the angle between the gaze direction and the midline of the brain. We used this AI algorithm to identify clinical symptoms of ipsiversive gaze deviation in stroke patients with LVO treated with EVT. The AI algorithm has a sensitivity and specificity of 80.8% and 80.1% to detect LVO using gaze deviation as the sole indicator. The test set had 150 scans with LVO-positive cases where thrombectomy was performed.

Ipsiversive Gaze deviation on NCCT is a good predictor of LVO due to proximal vessel occlusions in ICA terminus and M1 occlusions. However, it is a poor predictor of LVO due to M2 occlusion. We report an AI algorithm that can identify this clinical sign on NCCT. These findings can aid in the triage of LVO patients and expedite the identification of EVT candidates. 

We are presenting this AI method at SNIS 2022, Toronto. Please attend our oral presentation on 28th July 2022 at 12:15 PM (Toronto time).

Upadhyay, Ujjwal & Golla, Satish & Kumar, Shubham & Szweda, Kamila & Shahripour, Reza & Tarpley, Jason. (2022). Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery SNIS

[1] Silva, Ana & Pessoa, Ana & Nogueira, Renato & Araújo, José & Alves, José & Pinho, João & Ferreira, Carla. (2019). Prognostic information of gaze deviation in acute ischemic stroke patients. Neurological Sciences. 41. 10.1007/s10072-019-04140-7.

[2] McCluskey, G., Hunter, A., Best, E., McKee, J., McCarron, M. O., & McVerry, F. (2019). Radiological Eye Deviation as a Predictor of Large Vessel Occlusion in Acute Ischaemic Stroke. Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association, 28(8), 2318–2323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2019.05.029 

[3] Jiang, N. N., Wu, W., Fong, C., Sahlas, D. J., & Larrazabal, R. (2020). Role of Radiological Eye Deviation in Imaging Occult Cases of Acute Large Vessel Occlusion. Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association, 29(5), 104687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.104687

[4] Payabvash, S., I. Qureshi, and A. I. Qureshi. “Clinical implications of eye deviation on admission CT examination of acute ischaemic stroke patients." Clinical Radiology 71.12 (2016): 1314-e11.