Nv Segment Ct Finetune
NVIDIAOfficialCreated by NVIDIA MedTech
- Skill
- Workflow
- Data and AI
- Apache-2.0
- Medium risk
- Has scripts
AutoGineer summary
Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author
This skill provides a structured workflow for fine-tuning the NV-Segment-CT VISTA3D model on CT NIfTI image and label datasets. It supports two primary training modes: a standard continual-learning workflow and a fixed-channel softmax workflow for mutually exclusive class segmentation. The skill includes automated configuration generation, optional MLflow tracking for experiment management, and sanity-check presets for reproducing MSD Task06 Lung Tumor results. It is designed for research and development purposes and is not intended for clinical validation or autonomous diagnosis.
What it does
- Fine-tunes VISTA3D models on custom CT NIfTI datasets.
- Supports fixed-channel softmax training for mutually exclusive labels.
- Provides a sanity-check preset for MSD Task06 Lung Tumor reproduction.
- Integrates with MLflow for experiment tracking and metric logging.
- Generates structured output including performance metrics and checkpoint recommendations.
- Validates input datasets and provides audit reports.
When to use it
- When you need to adapt a pre-trained VISTA3D model to a specific CT anatomy.
- When labels are mutually exclusive and require a fixed-channel softmax output.
- When reproducing standard benchmark results for validation purposes.
- When tracking training progress and metrics via MLflow.
Advantages
- Automates complex bundle configuration and environment setup.
- Provides clear guidance on choosing between standard and softmax workflows.
- Includes built-in sanity checks to verify environment and model performance.
- Standardizes output reporting for easier model evaluation.
Usage examples
- “Fine-tune the model on my lung tumor dataset using the standard workflow.”
- The agent executes the fine-tuning script with the provided dataset, target anatomy, and default settings, outputting a recommended checkpoint and performance metrics.
- “Run a softmax fine-tuning for my mutually exclusive labels.”
- The agent configures the training for fixed-channel output using the specified label mapping and initiates the training process.
- “Perform a sanity check using the Task06 Lung Tumor dataset.”
- The agent runs the predefined sanity preset, comparing results against reference scores to verify the environment and model behavior.
- “Fine-tune with MLflow tracking enabled.”
- The agent initiates the training process and logs metrics to the specified MLflow experiment.
Install
Download the skill as a ZIP:
https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/nvidia/nv-segment-ct-finetune/downloadUnzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:
mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip nv-segment-ct-finetune.zip -d .agents/skills
Documentation by NVIDIA MedTech
NV-Segment-CT Finetune
Purpose
Used for smoke or dataset finetuning of NV-Segment-CT VISTA3D on CT NIfTI labels, including the upstream fixed-channel softmax workflow and optional MLflow tracking. Not for clinical validation.
Wraps the upstream MONAI bundle entrypoint; do not replace it with handwritten training or inference code.
Manifest inputs are
dataset_dir,datalist,target_anatomy,label_mapping,smoke,sanity,auto_seg,softmax,skip_formal_eval,mlflow_tracking_uri,mlflow_experiment_name, andmlflow_run_name.Manifest outputs are
finetuned_ckptand schema-checkedresult_json.
Instructions
Run only the caller-requested preset, dataset, output directory, and compute budget. Dependency setup and remote tracking require the caller's approval. After reporting the result, stop; further training, publishing, or deployment is a separate request.
Run
scripts/run_finetune.py; do not patch files underbundle/or upstream checkouts during normal skill use.For standalone Bash, include the fresh-environment setup line before the wrapper; benchmark venvs start empty.
Run the committed script in place from the repo root. Do not copy this skill to a runtime directory, and do not use
rmor cleanup commands in generated invocations.If a host exposes
run_script, userun_script("scripts/run_finetune.py", args=[...]); otherwise run from the repo root.For the shortest workflow check, use
--smoke; for MSD Task06 Lung Tumor reproduction, use--sanity.Choose between the standard and
--softmaxworkflows using the criteria below. Do not combine--softmaxwith--auto-segor--sanity.Set
--mlflow-experiment-nameto enable MLflow for the training phase of either workflow.--mlflow-tracking-uriand--mlflow-run-namerequire an experiment name. Formal pre/post evaluation does not receive MLflow credentials.Read
references/task06-and-results.mdonly when you need Task06 reference details, output-field definitions, or manual bundle setup notes.
Choosing the Workflow
Use --softmax only when all of these conditions hold:
The complete class set is known before training and will not vary between inference requests.
Labels are mutually exclusive: each voxel is background or exactly one foreground class.
Every foreground dataset label maps to an existing VISTA3D class ID, and a conventional fixed-channel output is desired.
Keep the standard workflow if point prompts must remain available, classes are selected dynamically at inference, labels can overlap, or the Task06 --sanity reproduction is required.
For --label-mapping '[[1,3],[2,13]]', channel 0 is background, channel 1 represents dataset label 1 initialized from VISTA3D class 3, and channel 2 represents dataset label 2 initialized from VISTA3D class 13. Preserve the entries and their order when using the resulting model_softmax.pt with upstream configs/inference_softmax.json. The nv-segment-ct and nv-segment-ctmr inference skills do not currently expose that fixed-channel inference path.
Available Scripts
| Script | Purpose | Arguments |
|---|---|---|
scripts/run_finetune.py | Primary entrypoint declared by skill_manifest.yaml; stages configs, runs MONAI, and writes output.json. | [FIXTURE_OR_DATASET] --output-dir OUT_DIR [--smoke] [--sanity] [--auto-seg] [--softmax] [--dataset-dir DIR] [--datalist JSON] [--target-anatomy TEXT] [--label-mapping JSON] [--patch-size JSON] [--mlflow-experiment-name NAME] [--mlflow-tracking-uri URI] [--mlflow-run-name NAME] |
Prerequisites
Python 3.10+ with CUDA-capable Torch for GPU runs.
Runtime packages from
skill_manifest.yaml, especiallymonai==1.4.0,numpy<2,nibabel,scipy,typer,PyYAML,fire,pytorch-ignite,einops, andhuggingface_hub. Installmlflow>=2.10,<4when MLflow tracking is enabled.Optional environment variables:
CUDA_VISIBLE_DEVICESrestricts visible GPUs;NPROC_PER_NODEoverrides GPU count and values>=2select multi-GPU mode for non-sanity runs;NVSEG_FINETUNE_AUTO_VENV=0disables the cached MONAI 1.4 compatibility environment. Remote tracking may useDATABRICKS_CONFIG_PROFILE,DATABRICKS_HOST,DATABRICKS_TOKEN,MLFLOW_TRACKING_CLIENT_CERT_PATH,MLFLOW_TRACKING_INSECURE_TLS,MLFLOW_TRACKING_PASSWORD,MLFLOW_TRACKING_SERVER_CERT_PATH,MLFLOW_TRACKING_TOKEN, orMLFLOW_TRACKING_USERNAME; these variables are forwarded only when MLflow is explicitly enabled, and unrelated credentials are not forwarded.--softmaxalso needs the pinned NVIDIA-Medtech source checkout. SetNV_SEGMENT_CT_ROOTto itsNV-Segment-CTdirectory, or setNV_SEGMENT_CTMR_ROOTto the siblingNV-Segment-CTMRdirectory. The wrapper reads the official softmax config and implementation in place and writes generated overrides only under--output-dir.Run outputs: generated bundle configs under
skills/nv-segment-ct-finetune/bundle/configs/, includingauto_override.json,train_continual_task06_lung.json, anddfw_no_logging.json; checkpoints/evidence under--output-dir; and local tracking data under<output-dir>/mlrunswhen enabled.Dependency cache locations:
~/.cache/nvidia-skills/venvs/nv-segment-ct-finetune-monai14/for MONAI compatibility packages and~/.cache/huggingface/for model assets. These are reusable runtime files, not agent instructions or authorization for another run. SetNVSEG_FINETUNE_AUTO_VENV=0when compatibility-environment setup is not approved; then use a caller-provided compatible environment.Network access: model/config downloads use
https://huggingface.coandhttps://raw.githubusercontent.com; remote tracking contacts only the caller-approved MLflow or Databricks destination when explicitly enabled. The label-dictionary download accepts HTTPS on the pinned source host and rejects redirects.
Fresh environment setup:
python -m pip install "monai==1.4.0" "numpy<2" pytorch-ignite einops nibabel scipy typer PyYAML fire huggingface_hubWhen MLflow tracking is enabled, also install:
python -m pip install "mlflow>=2.10,<4"Known upstream compatibility constraints:
DFW Task06 reference: Python
3.10.16, MONAI1.4.0, Torch2.7.0+cu126.Use exact
monai==1.4.0for smoke, sanity, and evidence runs; MONAI 1.5.x can crash the upstream finetune loss on boolean labels.Do not float the dependency as
monai>=1.4,<1.6in generated commands.The softmax workflow keeps the upstream defaults of 100 epochs and learning rate
1e-4unless the caller overrides them.
One-time source setup for --softmax:
export NV_SEGMENT_CTMR_COMMIT=cb921f5c58837c0f42a713855d68b32af88e1cdd
export NV_SEGMENT_CTMR_CHECKOUT="$HOME/.cache/nvidia-skills/upstreams/NV-Segment-CTMR-cb921f5"
if [ ! -d "$NV_SEGMENT_CTMR_CHECKOUT/.git" ]; then
git clone https://github.com/NVIDIA-Medtech/NV-Segment-CTMR.git "$NV_SEGMENT_CTMR_CHECKOUT"
fi
git -C "$NV_SEGMENT_CTMR_CHECKOUT" checkout --detach "$NV_SEGMENT_CTMR_COMMIT"
export NV_SEGMENT_CT_ROOT="$NV_SEGMENT_CTMR_CHECKOUT/NV-Segment-CT"Usage
Smoke-scale workflow check:
python -m pip install "monai==1.4.0" "numpy<2" pytorch-ignite einops nibabel scipy typer PyYAML fire huggingface_hub && \
python skills/nv-segment-ct-finetune/scripts/run_finetune.py \
PATH_TO_DATASET \
--smoke \
--patch-size '[64,64,64]' \
--output-dir runs/nvseg_smokeUse the staged dataset as PATH_TO_DATASET. For the micro fixture, use skills/nv-segment-ct-finetune/fixtures/spleen_micro. Smoke mode proves wiring, config generation, checkpoint loading, and runtime compatibility; it is not a quality bar.
MSD Task06 Lung Tumor sanity reproduction:
python skills/nv-segment-ct-finetune/scripts/run_finetune.py \
/path/to/Task06 \
--sanity \
--output-dir runs/nvseg_task06_sanityThe sanity preset follows the single-GPU DFW recipe: fold-0 validation, label mapping [[1, 23]] for lung tumor, automatic class-prompt segmentation, patch [128,128,128], 5 epochs, and original-spacing configs/evaluate.json scoring before and after training. Expected reference range is pretrained Dice about 0.6697, training-best Dice about 0.6905, and fine-tuned formal Dice about 0.6836.
User-data finetune:
python skills/nv-segment-ct-finetune/scripts/run_finetune.py \
--dataset-dir /path/to/dataset \
--datalist /path/to/datalist.json \
--target-anatomy "lung tumor" \
--auto-seg \
--epochs 5 \
--patch-size '[128,128,128]' \
--output-dir runs/nvseg_user_finetuneUse --label-mapping '[[1, 23]]' when local label values are custom or the anatomy name is ambiguous.
Optional local MLflow tracking:
python skills/nv-segment-ct-finetune/scripts/run_finetune.py \
--dataset-dir /path/to/dataset \
--datalist /path/to/datalist.json \
--target-anatomy "lung tumor" \
--epochs 5 \
--mlflow-experiment-name nvseg-finetune \
--mlflow-run-name trial-01 \
--output-dir runs/nvseg_mlflowThis uses MONAI's documented --tracking mlflow path and built-in rank-zero handlers. With no --mlflow-tracking-uri, data stays in <output-dir>/mlruns. Pass a caller-approved remote URI, including databricks, only when remote tracking is intended. MLflow does not change patch size, transforms, optimizer values, DataLoader settings, or other training configuration.
Fixed-channel softmax finetune for mutually exclusive labels:
export NV_SEGMENT_CT_ROOT="$HOME/.cache/nvidia-skills/upstreams/NV-Segment-CTMR-cb921f5/NV-Segment-CT"
python skills/nv-segment-ct-finetune/scripts/run_finetune.py \
--dataset-dir /path/to/dataset \
--datalist /path/to/datalist.json \
--label-mapping '[[1,3],[2,13]]' \
--softmax \
--epochs 100 \
--output-dir runs/nvseg_softmaxThis delegates to upstream configs/train_continual_softmax.json. It produces
checkpoints/model_softmax.pt; the source model.pt initializes the network
but is not compatible with configs/inference_softmax.json. The wrapper
therefore recommends the produced softmax checkpoint after a successful run.
Examples
Smoke run on a staged tiny dataset:
python skills/nv-segment-ct-finetune/scripts/run_finetune.py \
runs/with_vs_without_nv/_inputs/nv_segment_ct_finetune/input_dataset \
--smoke \
--patch-size '[64,64,64]' \
--output-dir runs/nvseg_smokeTask06 sanity run on a local MSD cache:
python skills/nv-segment-ct-finetune/scripts/run_finetune.py \
.workbench_data/datasets/Task06_Lung \
--sanity \
--output-dir runs/nvseg_task06_sanityData Contract
Preferred layout:
dataset/imagesTr/*.nii.gzanddataset/labelsTr/*.nii.gz.Labels must align one-to-one with images by basename.
The target label value must be present in the training labels.
Use a datalist when patient-level splitting matters. The bundle default
foldis0, sofold: 0entries are validation and all other folds are training.Every trained foreground label must map to an existing VISTA3D global class id from
bundle/label_dict.json; this skill cannot invent a new class.In
--softmaxmode, the first mapping column is the saved dataset label and the second is the pretrained VISTA class ID. Mapping order fixes the channel layout and must remain unchanged during inference.
Results
Check output.json in the run directory first:
formal_pretrained_val_diceandformal_finetuned_val_dice: original-spacing pre/post scores when formal eval is enabled.training_start_val_dice,val_dice_per_epoch, andtraining_best_val_dice: training-time validation trace.finetuned_ckpt_matches_pretrained_weights: detects the standard workflow's epoch-0 checkpoint trap whenval_at_start=true; softmax uses a different checkpoint architecture.recommended_ckpt: checkpoint recommendation derived from the recorded workflow and metrics. Inspect those records before selecting a checkpoint; the last epoch or a filename alone is not evidence of improvement. Report the recommendation to the caller; deployment is outside this skill's scope.invocation.mlflow_tracking: selected tracking URI, experiment name, and optional run name, ornullwhen tracking was disabled.runtime.oom,runtime.peak_gpu_mb, and phase logs: distinguish OOM, slow validation, and process failure.
Decision rule: prefer formal original-spacing pre/post scores when present; reject tensor-identical "fine-tuned" checkpoints for sanity recovery; treat improved: false as valid evidence rather than a wrapper failure.
Limitations
Thin wrapper. Training, validation, transforms, and checkpointing are delegated to the upstream bundle in
bundle/.Tensor comparison uses restricted
weights_only=Truecheckpoint loading. Unsupported serialized objects produce a comparison error; they are not retried with unrestricted pickle loading. This comparison is not a security audit of the upstream training/checkpoint loader.Reproduction record only: the successful five-epoch Task06 run used Python
3.12.3, PyTorch2.12.0+cu130with CUDA13.0, MONAI1.4.0, NumPy1.26.4, PyTorch-Ignite0.5.4, NiBabel5.4.2, SciPy1.16.0, einops0.8.2, Fire0.7.1, Hugging Face Hub0.36.2, Transformers4.57.6, Typer0.25.1, PyYAML6.0.3, and MLflow3.14.0on one NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada 48 GB GPU. These versions document the evidence environment; they are not additional package constraints or a claim that other versions cannot work.The auto-derived plan is heuristic; caller-provided
--patch-size,--cache-rate,--epochs, and--learning-ratewin.--softmaxis not compatible with--sanity: the Task06 reference scores and original-spacing pre/post evaluation belong to the standard VISTA3D continual-learning workflow. Softmax runs record the training validation trajectory but need a separate task-specific evaluation before quality claims.The Task06 sanity recipe intentionally forces single-GPU execution to match the DFW reference. Multi-GPU mode for other datasets requires host
torchrunsupport.The paired verifier is CPU-only and audits the evidence pack; it does not re-run GPU segmentation.
MLflow support is optional and uses MONAI's built-in tracking handlers. Tracking errors are part of the upstream MONAI run and can therefore fail the finetune command.
Not for clinical deployment, clinical interpretation, autonomous diagnosis, or regulatory submission.
Troubleshooting
| Error | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Missing dependency or import error | Runtime drift from skill_manifest.yaml. | Install the packages above or use the documented environment. |
| Low Task06 pretrained Dice | Wrong config, wrong checkpoint, data split drift, or dependency drift. | Compare environment fields and staged configs before changing training logic. |
model_finetune.pt matches pretrained | val_at_start=true selected epoch 0 as best. | Use recommended_ckpt; treat sanity recovery as failed unless a changed checkpoint improves formal Dice. |
| Missing formal Dice fields | Formal eval failed or was skipped. | Inspect eval_pretrained.log, eval_finetuned.log, and metrics.csv. |
| GPU out of memory | Patch/cache settings too large. | Reduce --patch-size, lower --cache-rate, or reduce workers. |
| No validation cases | Datalist lacks fold: 0. | Provide at least one validation entry. |
--softmax requires the pinned ... checkout | The August softmax config/implementation is absent or the checkout is at a different commit. | Check out cb921f5c58837c0f42a713855d68b32af88e1cdd and set NV_SEGMENT_CT_ROOT or NV_SEGMENT_CTMR_ROOT. |
| MLflow tracking fails | MLflow is absent, credentials are invalid, or the experiment is inaccessible. | Inspect finetune.log, fix the MLflow client configuration, and rerun; omit --mlflow-experiment-name to disable tracking. |
Verification
Run the implemented verifier when quality gates matter:
python -m eval_engine.run_trusted skills/nv-segment-ct-finetune \
--fixture skills/nv-segment-ct-finetune/fixtures/spleen_micro \
--out runs/nvseg_trustedFiles
- ATTRIBUTION.mdAdded by AutoGineer932 B
- BENCHMARK.md8.0 KiB
- LICENSELicence file added by AutoGineer11.2 KiB
- SKILL.md16.4 KiB
- evals/evals.json4.5 KiB
- fixtures/spleen_micro/datalist.json507 B
- references/task06-and-results.md3.8 KiB
- scripts/run_finetune.pyScript79.8 KiB
- skill-card.md4.3 KiB
- skill.oms.sig5.9 KiB
- skill_manifest.yaml14.9 KiB
- tests/test_run_finetune.pyScript18.7 KiB
- validators/output_schema.json7.0 KiB
fixtures/spleen_micro/datalist.json
{
"training": [
{
"image": "imagesTr/spleen_00.nii.gz",
"label": "labelsTr/spleen_00.nii.gz",
"fold": 0
},
{
"image": "imagesTr/spleen_01.nii.gz",
"label": "labelsTr/spleen_01.nii.gz",
"fold": 1
},
{
"image": "imagesTr/spleen_02.nii.gz",
"label": "labelsTr/spleen_02.nii.gz",
"fold": 1
},
{
"image": "imagesTr/spleen_03.nii.gz",
"label": "labelsTr/spleen_03.nii.gz",
"fold": 1
}
],
"testing": []
}Requirements and compatibility
Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta
“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.
Needs: Declares allowed tools, Needs a command-line tool, Needs Python
Security
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Attribution and licence
- Created by
- NVIDIA MedTech
- Publisher
- NVIDIA (Official)
- Source
- NVIDIA/skills · skills/nv-segment-ct-finetune · commit fce3cca
- Licence
- Apache License 2.0 (redistribution allowed)
- LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE-APACHE)
- ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
- Synced
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