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Multimodal Transformer Integrating Retinal Fundus Images, Optical Coherence Tomography, and Clinical Variables for Predicting Progression from Intermediate to Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) is the most severe form of AMD, driven by choroidal neovascularization that can cause rapid, irreversible central vision loss. Early anti-VEGF treatment preserves vision, making timely identification of progression from intermediate AMD critically important. However, current surveillance methods are insufficient for accurately predicting which patients will convert to neovascular disease. Existing prediction models rely mainly on a single imaging modality such as fundus photography or optical coherence tomography (OCT), limiting their ability to capture the full spectrum of disease features. Important clinical factors—age, genetics, and lifestyle—are also often underused. This lack of integrated multimodal modeling limits accurate risk stratification. We propose a multimodal transformer framework that integrates fundus images, OCT volumes, and clinical variables to predict progression from intermediate to neovascular AMD. Modality-specific encoders convert each data type into unified token representations, which are then fused using a cross-modal transformer to generate a calibrated progression risk score. The system includes a vision transformer-based fundus encoder, a 3D OCT volume encoder, a clinical variable MLP encoder, a cross-modal attention module for information fusion, and a classifier that outputs time-to-neovascular conversion risk. The framework learns shared representations across modalities, enabling interaction between imaging biomarkers and clinical risk factors. Cross-modal attention helps uncover complex patterns that may precede neovascularization and are not visible in single-modality models. This framework enables integrated, multimodal risk prediction for AMD progression, offering a foundation for personalized monitoring and earlier intervention through improved risk stratification.
Journal of Artificial Intelligence for Healthcare Systems
Original Research | Open access | 20 July 2025 | Article: 115
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AI-driven Diagnostics Artificial Intelligence in Health Informatics Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Big Data in Healthcare Clinical Data Mining Clinical Decision Support Systems Clinical Informatics Computer Vision Connected Health Systems Deep Learning Digital Health Digital Healthcare Innovation Digital Transformation in Healthcare Electronic Health Records Ethical AI in Healthcare Explainable AI Health Data Analytics Health Data Privacy Health Informatics Health Information Management Health Information Systems Health System Optimization Health Technology Assessment Healthcare Data Science Healthcare Informatics Healthcare Information Security Healthcare Management Healthcare Management Information Systems Intelligent Medical Systems Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) Interoperability in Healthcare Systems Machine Learning Medical Data Analytics Medical Data Management Medical Imaging Mobile Health (mHealth) Natural Language Processing Precision Medicine Predictive Analytics Remote Patient Monitoring Smart Healthcare Systems Telemedicine Wearable Health Technologies e-Health




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