Proceedings of International Conference on Applied Innovation in IT  ·  2026/06/12  ·  Vol. 14  ·  Issue 3  ·  pp. 279–292
Label-Efficient Deep Learning for Intracranial Aneurysm Segmentation in CTA Images
Noor Hussain Ali, Nuha Jameel Ibrahim and Mohammad Kamrul Hasan
Accurate identification and segmentation of intracranial aneurysms in brain CTA scans remain challenging due to their small size, low contrast, and high morphological variability. This paper proposes a label-efficient deep learning framework that integrates synthetic mask generation, vessel-enhancement preprocessing, and a modified Attention U-Net augmented with Convolutional Block Attention Modules (CBAM). To address class imbalance and enhance sensitivity to small aneurysm regions, the network is optimized using Tversky loss. In the absence of manual annotations, automatically generated vessel masks are used as synthetic supervisory signals, enabling training under limited annotation conditions. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms a standard U-Net, achieving Dice = 0.8798, IoU = 0.8056, Precision = 0.8327, Recall = 0.9152, and F1-score = 0.8584, while producing smoother and more continuous vessel segmentations with reduced background noise. These findings suggest that combining spatial-channel attention mechanisms with false-negative-aware optimization can improve aneurysm segmentation performance and provide a reproducible, annotation-efficient framework for future neurovascular imaging applications.
Intracranial Aneurysm CTA Segmentation Attention U-Net CBAM Synthetic Mask Deep Learning.
References
  1. Z. Zhu, X. He, W. Chen, et al., “Deep learning-based recognition and segmentation of intracranial aneurysms under small sample size,” Frontiers in Physiology, vol. 13, 2022, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.1084202.
  2. C. M. de Nys, E. S. Liang, M. Prior, et al., “Time-of-flight MRA of intracranial aneurysms with interval surveillance, clinical segmentation and annotations,” Scientific Data, vol. 11, p. 555, 2024, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-03397-8.
  3. F. Claux, M. Baudouin, C. Bogey, and A. Rouchaud, “Dense deep learning-based intracranial aneurysm detection on TOF MRI using two-stage regularized U-Net,” Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics, vol. 98, p. 102109, 2022.
  4. R. Shahzad, L. Pennig, L. Goertz, et al., “Fully automated detection and segmentation of intracranial aneurysms in subarachnoid hemorrhage on CTA using deep learning,” Scientific Reports, vol. 10, p. 21799, 2020, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78384-1.
  5. L. Hou, J. Zhang, L. Zhao, et al., “CTA image segmentation method for intracranial aneurysms based on MGLIA-Net,” Scientific Reports, vol. 15, p. 10593, 2025, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95143-2.
  6. Q. Claux, B. Larrue, L. Saillard, et al., “A regularized two-stage U-Net for detection of intracranial aneurysms in TOF-MRA,” Journal of Neuroscience Methods, vol. 375, p. 109544, 2022, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109544.
  7. E. Talib, A. S. Jamil, N. F. Hassan, and M. E. Rana, “Robust digital video watermarking methods: A comparative study,” Journal of Soft Computing and Computer Applications, vol. 1, no. 1, Art. no. 1002, 2024, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.70403/3008-1084.1002.
  8. F. A. Alshehri, H. Alaskar, S. A. Alanazi, and Y. Koucheryavy, “CBAM attention gate-based lightweight deep neural network model for improved retinal vessel segmentation,” Preprint, ResearchGate, 2024, [Online]. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388284741.
  9. W. Yuan, Y. Peng, Y. Guo, et al., “DCAU-Net: Dense convolutional attention U-Net for segmentation of intracranial aneurysm images,” Visual Computing for Industry, Biomedicine, and Art, vol. 5, no. 9, 2022, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42492-022-00105-4.
  10. D. Amran, M. Artzi, O. Aizenstein, et al., “BV-GAN: 3D time-of-flight MR angiography cerebrovascular vessel segmentation using adversarial CNNs,” Journal of Medical Imaging, vol. 9, no. 4, p. 044503, 2022, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMI.9.4.044503.
  11. W. Yildirim, F. Demir, and E. Avci, “A novel ensemble deep learning model for brain aneurysm classification using MR angiography,” Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics, vol. 103, p. 102155, 2023.
  12. R. Hlavata, P. Kamencay, M. Radilova, et al., “Automated method for intracranial aneurysm classification using deep learning,” Sensors, vol. 24, no. 14, p. 4556, 2024.
  13. M. Paralic, K. Zelenak, P. Kamencay, and R. Hudec, “Automatic approach for brain aneurysm detection using convolutional neural networks,” Applied Sciences, vol. 13, no. 24, p. 13313, 2023.
  14. S. S. Hamad, N. J. Ibrahim, and M. N. Fadhil, “Texture features with ResNet50V2 for face spoofing detection,” AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 3264, p. 030033, 2025, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0260733.
  15. B. Yang, W. Li, X. Wu, W. Zhong, J. Wang, Y. Zhou, T. Huang, L. Zhou, and Z. Zhou, “Comparison of Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms Identification Using Different Machine Learning Algorithms and Radiomics,” Diagnostics, vol. 13, no. 16, art. no. 2627, Aug. 9, 2023.
  16. A. Bouget, M. Sugiyama, T. Yamaguchi, et al., “Deep learning of cerebral aneurysm segmentation using raw time-of-flight MR angiography,” Medical Image Analysis, vol. 68, p. 101913, 2021, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.media.2020.101913.
  17. A. T. Alharbi, K. M. Moria, and A. Mahzari, “Deep learning framework for the detection of intracranial aneurysms in CT angiography,” Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, vol. 215, p. 106625, 2022, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmpb.2022.106625.
  18. F. M. Ibrahim, M. H. Omar, and A. M. Youssef, “Brain aneurysm detection in 3D MR angiography images using 3D convolutional neural networks,” Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, vol. 66, p. 102426, 2021, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bspc.2021.102426.
  19. K. Wang, Y. Zhang, and B. Fang, “Intracranial aneurysm segmentation with a dual-path fusion network,” Bioengineering, vol. 12, no. 2, p. 185, 2025, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12020185.
  20. A. M. Al-Sammarraie, A. H. J. Alkhafaji, and S. A. A. Alalaf, “Design and implementation of a smart healthcare system for monitoring and classifying heart disease using deep learning,” Journal of Soft Computing and Computer Applications, vol. 1, no. 1, Art. no. 1005, 2024, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.70403/3008-1084.1005.
  21. A. Asikainen, M. Korja, J. Kaprio, and I. Rautalin, “Sex differences in case fatality of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: A systematic review,” Neuroepidemiology, vol. 58, pp. 412-425, 2024, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1159/000538562.
  22. B. Kim, “Unruptured intracranial aneurysm: Screening, prevalence and risk factors,” Neurointervention, vol. 16, pp. 201-203, 2021, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.5469/neuroint.2021.00451.
  23. O. Ronneberger, P. Fischer, and T. Brox, “U-Net: Convolutional Networks for Biomedical Image Segmentation,” in Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention (MICCAI), LNCS 9351, pp. 234-241, 2015, [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24574-4_28.


Proceedings of the International Conference on Applied Innovations in IT by Anhalt University of Applied Sciences is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
 ·  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

ICAIIT 2026
International Conference on Applied Innovation in IT
Navigation
Publisher
ISSN2199-8876
Location Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
Phone +49 (0) 3496 67 5611
Address Building 01, Room 425
Bernburger Str. 55
D-06366 Köthen, Germany
Open Access License

All works are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0), unless otherwise noted.

Published by ICAIIT in cooperation with Anhalt University of Applied Sciences.

© 2026 ICAIIT — International Conference on Applied Innovations in IT. Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Köthen, Germany.
Visitors: site traffic counter