Learned Image resizing with efficient training (LRET) facilitates improved performance of large-scale digital histopathology image classification models

TL;DR

LRET introduces an efficient image resizing technique that significantly improves the accuracy and training speed of deep learning models for large-scale histopathology image classification, enabling better diagnostics and research.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel method called LRET that combines efficient training with image resizing to enhance model performance on large histology images.

Findings

LRET improves classification accuracy by 15-28% on tumor datasets.

LRET reduces training times, enabling faster model development.

LRET outperforms existing methods across multiple architectures and datasets.

Abstract

Histologic examination plays a crucial role in oncology research and diagnostics. The adoption of digital scanning of whole slide images (WSI) has created an opportunity to leverage deep learning-based image classification methods to enhance diagnosis and risk stratification. Technical limitations of current approaches to training deep convolutional neural networks (DCNN) result in suboptimal model performance and make training and deployment of comprehensive classification models unobtainable. In this study, we introduce a novel approach that addresses the main limitations of traditional histopathology classification model training. Our method, termed Learned Resizing with Efficient Training (LRET), couples efficient training techniques with image resizing to facilitate seamless integration of larger histology image patches into state-of-the-art classification models while preserving important structural information. We used the LRET method coupled with two distinct resizing techniques to train three diverse histology image datasets using multiple diverse DCNN architectures. Our findings demonstrate a significant enhancement in classification performance and training efficiency. Across the spectrum of experiments, LRET consistently outperforms existing methods, yielding a substantial improvement of 15-28% in accuracy for a large-scale, multiclass tumor classification task consisting of 74 distinct brain tumor types. LRET not only elevates classification accuracy but also substantially reduces training times, unlocking the potential for faster model development and iteration. The implications of this work extend to broader applications within medical imaging and beyond, where efficient integration of high-resolution images into deep learning pipelines is paramount for driving advancements in research and clinical practice.