# Detection-Guided Deep Learning-Based Model with Spatial Regularization for Lung Nodule Segmentation

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.20154 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.20154/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 15 of its 41 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 26 Oct 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 15 of 15)

- [U-Net: Convolutional Networks for Biomedical Image Segmentation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1505.04597/) (2015)
- [DeepLab: Semantic Image Segmentation with Deep Convolutional Nets, Atrous Convolution, and Fully Connected CRFs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1606.00915/) (2016)
- [Encoder-Decoder with Atrous Separable Convolution for Semantic Image Segmentation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1802.02611/) (2018)
- [Xception: Deep Learning with Depthwise Separable Convolutions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1610.02357/) (2016)
- [Rethinking Atrous Convolution for Semantic Image Segmentation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1706.05587/) (2017)
- [Semantic Image Segmentation with Deep Convolutional Nets and Fully Connected CRFs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1412.7062/) (2014)
- [Cross-stitch Networks for Multi-task Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1604.03539/) (2016)
- [Road Extraction by Deep Residual U-Net](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1711.10684/) (2017)
- [ResUNet++: An Advanced Architecture for Medical Image Segmentation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1911.07067/) (2019)
- [Validation, comparison, and combination of algorithms for automatic detection of pulmonary nodules in computed tomography images: the LUNA16 challenge](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1612.08012/) (2016)
- [JCS: An Explainable COVID-19 Diagnosis System by Joint Classification and Segmentation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2004.07054/) (2020)
- [Deep Convolutional Neural Networks with Spatial Regularization, Volume and Star-shape Priori for Image Segmentation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2002.03989/) (2020)
- [A Regularized Convolutional Neural Network for Semantic Image Segmentation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1907.05287/) (2019)
- [Convex Shape Prior for Deep Neural Convolution Network based Eye Fundus Images Segmentation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.07476/) (2020)
- [HF-UNet: Learning Hierarchically Inter-Task Relevance in Multi-Task U-Net for Accurate Prostate Segmentation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.10439/) (2020)

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Open-Ended CT Volume Segmentation with Weak Supervision from Language](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.25860/) (2026)
- [A Machine Learning Approach to Volumetric Computations of Solid Pulmonary Nodules](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.20127/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Lung cancer ranks as one of the leading causes of cancer diagnosis and is the foremost cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The early detection of lung nodules plays a pivotal role in improving outcomes for patients, as it enables timely and effective treatment interventions. The segmentation of lung nodules plays a critical role in aiding physicians in distinguishing between malignant and benign lesions. However, this task remains challenging due to the substantial variation in the shapes and sizes of lung nodules, and their frequent proximity to lung tissues, which complicates clear delineation. In this study, we introduce a novel model for segmenting lung nodules in computed tomography (CT) images, leveraging a deep learning framework that integrates segmentation and classification processes. This model is distinguished by its use of feature combination blocks, which facilitate the sharing of information between the segmentation and classification components. Additionally, we employ the classification outcomes as priors to refine the size estimation of the predicted nodules, integrating these with a spatial regularization technique to enhance precision. Furthermore, recognizing the challenges posed by limited training datasets, we have developed an optimal transfer learning strategy that freezes certain layers to further improve performance. The results show that our proposed model can capture the target nodules more accurately compared to other commonly used models. By applying transfer learning, the performance can be further improved, achieving a sensitivity score of 0.885 and a Dice score of 0.814.