Development and validation of a deep learning model for the automated detection of vertebral artery calcification on non-contrast head-and-neck computed tomography
Journal:
medRxiv
Published Date:
Mar 17, 2026
Abstract
Background: Vertebral artery calcification (VAC), a critical indicator of cerebrovascular disease, is often overlooked in head-and-neck imaging. Manual detection is time-consuming and prone to inter-observer variability. This study aimed to develop and validate a deep learning model for automated detection and quantitative risk assessment of VAC in non-contrast head-and-neck computed tomography (CT) images, bridging the diagnostic gap between dentistry and vascular medicine. Methods: We developed a deep learning model based on the ResNet-18 architecture, designated as Grayscale ResNet, optimized for single-channel CT images. The development followed a two-phase strategy: initial training on 539 axial images from head-and-neck CT image followed by iterative refinement (fine-tuning) using a targeted dataset of clinically significant cases to ensure generalizability. The model's performance was evaluated using patient-level Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis and saliency map visualization for clinical interpretability. Results: The optimized model demonstrated a robust performance in distinguishing between cases with and without VAC. In the independent cohort, the model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.846. At a specific threshold value (98.6%), the system yielded a sensitivity of 80.0% and a specificity of 90.6%. A saliency map analysis confirmed that the model consistently focused on anatomically relevant vascular regions. Conclusions: The proposed automated system provides an accurate and reliable method for VAC screening using routine head-and-neck CT scans. By transforming incidental imaging findings into a quantifiable risk index, this tool can serve as a vital decision-support system for dentists and radiologists, facilitating early patient referrals and contributing to global stroke prevention.
