Improving diagnosis accuracy with an intelligent image retrieval system for lung pathologies detection: a features extractor approach.

Journal: Scientific reports
Published Date:

Abstract

Detecting lung pathologies is critical for precise medical diagnosis. In the realm of diagnostic methods, various approaches, including imaging tests, physical examinations, and laboratory tests, contribute to this process. Of particular note, imaging techniques like X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans play a pivotal role in identifying lung pathologies with their non-invasive insights. Deep learning, a subset of artificial intelligence, holds significant promise in revolutionizing the detection and diagnosis of lung pathologies. By leveraging expansive datasets, deep learning algorithms autonomously discern intricate patterns and features within medical images, such as chest X-rays and CT scans. These algorithms exhibit an exceptional capacity to recognize subtle markers indicative of lung diseases. Yet, while their potential is evident, inherent limitations persist. The demand for abundant labeled data during training and the susceptibility to data biases challenge their accuracy. To address these formidable challenges, this research introduces a tailored computer-assisted system designed for the automatic retrieval of annotated medical images that share similar content. At its core lies an intelligent deep learning-based features extractor, adept at simplifying the retrieval of analogous images from an extensive chest radiograph database. The crux of our innovation rests upon the fusion of YOLOv5 and EfficientNet within the features extractor module. This strategic fusion synergizes YOLOv5's rapid and efficient object detection capabilities with EfficientNet's proficiency in combating noisy predictions. The result is a distinctive amalgamation that redefines the efficiency and accuracy of features extraction. Through rigorous experimentation conducted on an extensive and diverse dataset, our proposed solution decisively surpasses conventional methodologies. The model's achievement of a mean average precision of 0.488 with a threshold of 0.9 stands as a testament to its effectiveness, overshadowing the results of YOLOv5 + ResNet and EfficientDet, which achieved 0.234 and 0.257 respectively. Furthermore, our model demonstrates a marked precision improvement, attaining a value of 0.864 across all pathologies-a noteworthy leap of approximately 0.352 compared to YOLOv5 + ResNet and EfficientDet. This research presents a significant stride toward enhancing radiologists' workflow efficiency, offering a refined and proficient tool for retrieving analogous annotated medical images.

Authors

  • Abdelbaki Souid
    MACS Research Laboratory RL16ES22, National Engineering School of Gabes, Gabes, Tunisia.
  • Najah Alsubaie
    Department of Computer Sciences, College of Computer and Information Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, 11671, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • Ben Othman Soufiene
    PRINCE Laboratory Research, ISITcom, Hammam Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4023, Tunisia.
  • Mohammed S Alqahtani
    Radiological Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia.
  • Mohamed Abbas
    Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia.
  • Layal K Jambi
    Radiological Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 10219, 11433, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • Hedi Sakli
    EITA Consulting, 5 Rue du Chant des Oiseaux, Montesson 78360, France.