Convolutional-LSTM for Multi-Image to Single Output Medical Prediction

TL;DR

This paper introduces a deep learning model combining 2D CNNs and sequence models to predict a single diagnosis from multiple medical images per patient, especially useful when volumetric data is unavailable or metadata is lost.

Contribution

It proposes a novel multi-image to single diagnostic framework using convolutional and sequence models, addressing scenarios with variable image counts and missing volumetric data.

Findings

Model successfully predicts single diagnosis from multiple images.

Approach mimics human diagnostic process by integrating information over image sequences.

Demonstrates feasibility in scenarios with incomplete or unstructured medical imaging data.

Abstract

Medical head CT-scan imaging has been successfully combined with deep learning for medical diagnostics of head diseases and lesions[1]. State of the art classification models and algorithms for this task usually are based on 3d convolution layers for volumetric data on a supervised learning setting (1 input volume, 1 prediction per patient) or 2d convolution layers in a supervised setting (1 input image, 1 prediction per image). However a very common scenario in developing countries is to have the volume metadata lost due multiple reasons for example formatting conversion in images (for example .dicom to jpg), in this scenario the doctor analyses the collection of images and then emits a single diagnostic for the patient (with possibly an unfixed and variable number of images per patient) , this prevents it from being possible to use state of the art 3d models, but also is not possible to convert it to a supervised problem in a (1 image,1 diagnostic) setting because different angles or positions of the images for a single patient may not contain the disease or lesion. In this study we propose a solution for this scenario by combining 2d convolutional[2] models with sequence models which generate a prediction only after all images have been processed by the model for a given patient \(i\), this creates a multi-image to single-diagnostic setting \(y^i=f(x_1,x_2,..,x_n)\) where \(n\) may be different between patients. The experimental results demonstrate that it is possible to get a multi-image to single diagnostic model which mimics human doctor diagnostic process: evaluate the collection of patient images and then use important information in memory to decide a single diagnostic for the patient.