A multicenter validation and calibration of automated software package for detecting anterior circulation large vessel occlusion on CT angiography.

Purpose: To validate JLK-LVO, a software detecting large vessel occlusion (LVO) on computed tomography angiography (CTA), within a multicenter dataset.

Methods: From 2021 to 2023, we enrolled patients with ischemic stroke who underwent CTA within 24-hour of onset at six university hospitals for validation and calibration datasets and at another university hospital for an independent dataset for testing model calibration. The diagnostic performance was evaluated using area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity across the entire study population and specifically in patients with isolated middle cerebral artery (MCA)-M2 occlusion. We calibrated LVO probabilities using logistic regression and by grouping LVO probabilities based on observed frequency.

Results: After excluding 168 patients, 796 remained; the mean (SD) age was 68.9 (13.7) years, and 57.7% were men. LVO was present in 193 (24.3%) of patients, and the median interval from last-known-well to CTA was 5.7 h (IQR 2.5-12.1 h). The software achieved an AUC of 0.944 (95% CI 0.926-0.960), with a sensitivity of 89.6% (84.5-93.6%) and a specificity of 90.4% (87.7-92.6%). In isolated MCA-M2 occlusion, the AUROC was 0.880 (95% CI 0.824-0.921). Due to sparse data between 20 and 60% of LVO probabilities, recategorization into unlikely (0-20% LVO scores), less likely (20-60%), possible (60-90%), and suggestive (90-100%) provided a reliable estimation of LVO compared with mathematical calibration. The category of LVO probabilities was associated with follow-up infarct volumes and functional outcome.

Conclusion: In this multicenter study, we proved the clinical efficacy of the software in detecting LVO on CTA.