A Connectivity-Enhanced Multi-Task Learning based on Anatomical Priors for 3D Class-Balanced Pulmonary Airway Segmentation

Accurate and efficient airway segmentation is essential for evaluating pulmonary diseases, aiding diagnosis, reducing the preoperative burden of airway identification, and minimizing patient discomfort during prolonged surgeries. However, current pulmonary airway reconstruction techniques are hindered by two major challenges: difficulty in accurately reconstructing fine airway branches due to the tendency to overlook small targets, and insufficient structural connectivity leading to frequent branch discontinuities within the airway tree. These limitations directly affect the clinical applicability of reconstructed airways. To overcome these challenges, a novel 3D pulmonary airway segmentation multi-task framework is proposed, designed to enhance the performance of existing backbone models. This approach integrates Anatomical Prior-Based Multi-Task Learning (AP-MTL) through the use of Gaussian-constructed connectivity-enhanced isosurfaces, significantly improving the network’s ability to maintain airway continuity. Additionally, a Class-Balanced CT Density Distribution Reconstruction mechanism (DDR-CB) is introduced, further refining the model’s capability to detect and segment fine airway branches. As a result of these enhancements, the model demonstrates a 11.5% average improvement in segmentation accuracy and connectivity compared to the baseline. The source code is publicly accessible at https://github.com/inexhaustible419/APMTLAirwaySegment.