Shape-aware Sampling Matters in the Modeling of Multi-Class Tubular Structures

Abstract: Accurate multi-class tubular modeling is critical for precise lesion localization and optimal treatment planning. Deep learning methods enable automated shape modeling by prioritizing volumetric overlap accuracy. However, the inherent complexity of fine-grained semantic tubular shapes is not fully emphasized by overlap accuracy, resulting in reduced topological preservation. To address this, we propose the Shapeaware Sampling (SAS), which optimizes patchsize allocation for online sampling and extracts a topology-preserved skeletal representation for the objective function. Fractal Dimension-based Patchsize (FDPS) is first introduced to quantify semantic tubular shape complexity through axis-specific fractal dimension analysis. Axes with higher fractal complexity are then sampled with smaller patchsizes to capture fine-grained features and resolve structural intricacies. In addition, Minimum Path-Cost Skeletonization (MPC-Skel) is employed to sample topologically consistent skeletal representations of semantic tubular shapes for skeleton-weighted objective functions. MPC-Skel reduces artifacts from conventional skeletonization methods and directs the focus to critical topological regions, enhancing tubular topology preservation. SAS is computationally efficient and easily integrable into optimization pipelines. Evaluation on two semantic tubular datasets showed consistent improvements in both volumetric overlap and topological integrity metrics.