Performance of a deep learning CNN model for the automated detection of 13 common conditions on Chest X-rays

Background and aims: Chest X-rays are widely used, non-invasive, cost effective imaging tests. However, the complexity of interpretation and global shortage of radiologists have led to reporting backlogs, delayed diagnosis and a compromised quality of care. A fully automated, reliable artificial intelligence system that can quickly triage abnormal images for urgent radiologist review would be invaluable in the clinical setting. The aim was to develop and validate a deep learning Convoluted Neural Network algorithm to automate the detection of 13 common abnormalities found on Chest X-rays. Method: In this retrospective study, a VGG 16 deep learning model was trained on images from the Chest-ray 14, a large publicly available Chest X-ray dataset, containing over 112,120 images with annotations. Images were split into training, validation and testing sets and trained to identify 13 specific abnormalities. The primary performance measures were accuracy and precision. Results: The model demonstrated an overall accuracy of 88% in the identification of abnormal X-rays and 87% in the detection of 13 common chest conditions with no model bias. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a well-trained deep learning algorithm can accurately identify multiple abnormalities on X-ray images. As such models get further refined, they can be used to ease radiology workflow bottlenecks and improve reporting efficiency. Napier Healthcare’s team that developed this model consists of medical IT professionals who specialize in AI and its practical application in acute & long-term care settings. This is currently being piloted in a few hospitals and diagnostic labs on a commercial basis.