Radiologist-AI Collaboration for Ischemia Diagnosis in Small Bowel Obstruction: Multicentric Development and External Validation of a Multimodal Deep Learning Model

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Abstract

PurposeTo develop and externally validate a multimodal AI model for detecting ischaemia complicating small-bowel obstruction (SBO). MethodsWe combined 3D CT data with routine laboratory markers (C-reactive protein, neutrophil count) and, optionally, radiology report text. From two centers, 1,350 CT examinations were curated; 771 confirmed SBO scans were used for model development with patient-level splits. Ischemia labels were defined by surgical confirmation within 24 hours of imaging. Models (MViT, ResNet-101, DaViT) were trained as unimodal and multimodal variants. External testing was used for 66 independent cases from a third center. Two radiologists (attending, resident) read the test set with and without AI assistance. Performance was assessed using AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and 95% bootstrap confidence intervals; predictions included a confidence score. ResultsThe image-plus-laboratory model performed best on external testing (AUC 0.69 [0.59-0.79], sensitivity 0.89 [0.76-1.00], and specificity 0.44 [0.35-0.54]). Adding report text improved internal validation but did not generalize externally; image+text and full multimodal variants did not exceed image+laboratory performance. Without AI, the attending outperformed the resident (AUC 0.745 [0.617-0.845] vs 0.706 [0.581-0.818]); with AI, both improved, attending 0.752 [0.637-0.853] and resident 0.752 [0.629-0.867], rising to 0.750 [0.631-0.839] and 0.773 [0.657-0.867] with confidence display; differences were not statistically significant. ConclusionA multimodal AI that combines CT images with routine laboratory markers outperforms single-modality approaches and boosts radiologist readers performance notably junior, supporting earlier, more consistent decisions within the first 24 hours. Key PointsA multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) model that combines CT images with laboratory markers detected ischemia in small-bowel obstruction with AUC 0.69 (95% CI 0.59-0.79) and sensitivity 0.89 (0.76-1.00) on external testing, outperforming single-modality models. Adding report text did not generalize across sites: the image+text model fell from AUC 0.82 (internal) to 0.53 (external), and adding text to image+biology left external AUC unchanged (0.69) with similar specificity (0.43-0.44). With AI assistance both junior and senior readers improved; the juniors AUC rose from 0.71 to 0.77, reaching senior-level performance. Summary StatementA multicentric AI model combining CT and routine laboratory data (CRP and neutrophilia) improved radiologists detection of ischemia in small-bowel obstruction. This tool supports earlier decision-making within the first 24 hours.

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