Deep learning empowered breast cancer diagnosis: Advancements in detection and classification

PLoS One. 2024 Jul 11;19(7):e0304757. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304757. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Recent advancements in AI, driven by big data technologies, have reshaped various industries, with a strong focus on data-driven approaches. This has resulted in remarkable progress in fields like computer vision, e-commerce, cybersecurity, and healthcare, primarily fueled by the integration of machine learning and deep learning models. Notably, the intersection of oncology and computer science has given rise to Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) systems, offering vital tools to aid medical professionals in tumor detection, classification, recurrence tracking, and prognosis prediction. Breast cancer, a significant global health concern, is particularly prevalent in Asia due to diverse factors like lifestyle, genetics, environmental exposures, and healthcare accessibility. Early detection through mammography screening is critical, but the accuracy of mammograms can vary due to factors like breast composition and tumor characteristics, leading to potential misdiagnoses. To address this, an innovative CAD system leveraging deep learning and computer vision techniques was introduced. This system enhances breast cancer diagnosis by independently identifying and categorizing breast lesions, segmenting mass lesions, and classifying them based on pathology. Thorough validation using the Curated Breast Imaging Subset of Digital Database for Screening Mammography (CBIS-DDSM) demonstrated the CAD system's exceptional performance, with a 99% success rate in detecting and classifying breast masses. While the accuracy of detection is 98.5%, when segmenting breast masses into separate groups for examination, the method's performance was approximately 95.39%. Upon completing all the analysis, the system's classification phase yielded an overall accuracy of 99.16% for classification. The potential for this integrated framework to outperform current deep learning techniques is proposed, despite potential challenges related to the high number of trainable parameters. Ultimately, this recommended framework offers valuable support to researchers and physicians in breast cancer diagnosis by harnessing cutting-edge AI and image processing technologies, extending recent advances in deep learning to the medical domain.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / classification
  • Breast Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Breast Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Deep Learning*
  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted* / methods
  • Early Detection of Cancer / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mammography* / methods

Grants and funding

This work was supported and funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU) (Grant Number IMSIU-RP23044). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.