Non-Contrast CT-Based Radiomics Score for Predicting Hematoma Enlargement in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Purpose To develop a non-contrast computed tomography-(CT)-based radiomics score for predicting the risk of hematoma early enlargement in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Methods A total of 258 patients from a single-center database with acute spontaneous intracerebral parenchymal hemorrhage were collected. Radiomics software was explored to segment hematomas on baseline non-contrast CT images, and the texture features were extracted. Minimal Redundancy and Maximal Relevance (mRMR) and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), were used to select optimized subset of features and radiomics score was calculated. The radiomics model (radiomics score-based), radiomics nomogram (radiomics score combined with clinical factors-based) and clinical model (clinical factors-based) were built in a training cohort and validated in a test cohort. The discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of the models were evaluated. Finally, a subgroup analysis was performed to assess the predictive value of radiomics score in specific hemorrhage location. Results Radiomics score was composed of 12 radiomics features. The radiomics model and radiomics nomogram both showed good performance in predicting hematoma enlargement (area under the curve, AUC 0.83 [0.71-0.95], AUC 0.82 [0.72, 0.93]), and were both better than clinical model (AUC 0.66 [0.54-0.79]). The radiomics model and radiomics nomogram showed satisfactory calibration and clinical usefulness for detecting hematoma enlargement. For subgroup analysis, radiomics score also showed good predictive value for hematoma enlargement in different locations (AUC were 0.828, 0.940, 0.836 and 0.904, respectively, for supratentorial, subtentorial, deep and lobes). Conclusion A radiomics score based on non-contrast CT may be considered as a potential biomarker for prediction of hematoma enlargement in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH), and it presented a high incremental value to clinical factors for hematoma enlargement prediction.