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Enterprise AI Analysis: A systematic literature review on mammography: deep learning techniques for breast cancer detection with global and Asian perspectives

Enterprise AI Analysis

Revolutionizing Breast Cancer Detection with Deep Learning: Global & Asian Perspectives

This comprehensive analysis explores the advancements and challenges of Deep Learning (DL) in mammography for breast cancer detection, focusing on global trends and unique Asian population contexts.

Executive Impact & Key Findings

Deep Learning for breast cancer detection is rapidly evolving, with significant implications for global healthcare, particularly in regions facing unique challenges.

0 Studies Reviewed
0 Publication Growth (2018-2023)
0 India BC Death Increase (2022-2045)
0 DL Models Trained on Caucasian Data

Deep Analysis & Enterprise Applications

Select a topic to dive deeper, then explore the specific findings from the research, rebuilt as interactive, enterprise-focused modules.

Advancements in Deep Learning for Breast Cancer Detection

Recent years have seen a paradigm shift in BC detection with advanced DL architectures. Models like YOLO-v8, Faster R-CNN, and various transformer-based approaches are significantly improving accuracy for lesion detection, especially microcalcifications and masses. These systems leverage sophisticated feature extraction and multi-scale analysis to identify subtle abnormalities, often outperforming traditional methods. However, challenges remain in generalizing these models across diverse populations and integrating them into clinical workflows efficiently.

Precision in Anatomical Structure Delineation

Segmentation techniques have evolved from basic thresholding to advanced U-Net-based models and attention-based hierarchical networks. Innovations like Att-U-Node, SRMADNet, and YOLOV5MedSAM offer enhanced precision for mass segmentation, microcalcification detection, and removal of pectoral muscle. Despite progress, only 10% of segmentation studies utilize Asian datasets, highlighting a critical gap given the labor-intensive nature of pixel-level annotation and limited resources in many Asian institutions.

Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy through Lesion Classification

Lesion classification remains a key focus, categorizing findings into BI-RADS classes. Architectural trends show a move from traditional CNNs (ResNet, VGG) to more sophisticated approaches including attention mechanisms, ensemble methods, and vision transformers. Multi-view and cross-view learning architectures, such as MVDEFEAT and FV-Net, integrate comprehensive feature information to significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy. However, only 13% of classification studies involve Asian datasets, limiting model applicability to diverse demographics.

Automated Breast Density Assessment for Improved Screening

Correctly identifying breast density is crucial for BC screening and risk prediction. Customized CNN architectures dominate density classification, with emerging trends towards multi-view learning, attention-guided approaches, and graph-based methods. While density annotations are more accessible, standardization across different assessment protocols remains a challenge. Notably, there is a severe lack of dedicated breast density research in African and Oceanian populations, and only 5 studies in Asian populations compared to 24 in Caucasian populations, indicating significant knowledge gaps.

Unique Challenges in Applying DL to Asian Populations

Asian populations present distinct challenges for DL-based BC detection. These include higher breast density, leading to obscured tumors and delayed diagnoses. There's also an earlier onset of BC (40-50 years) with more aggressive forms, coupled with a scarcity of large, annotated datasets. Cultural, socio-economic, and infrastructural barriers further impede screening and data collection, leading to models trained predominantly on Caucasian data performing poorly on Asian mammograms.

Addressing Data Scarcity and Imbalance for Robust DL Models

A major drawback is the limited availability of diverse, publicly accessible Asian datasets, with only two currently available. This scarcity leads to biased predictions and limits model optimization. Datasets are often imbalanced, with more benign cases skewing model performance. Future research must prioritize gathering well-annotated datasets from various Asian populations, implementing strategies like synthetic lesion creation, class weighting, and cross-population model validation through domain adaptation techniques.

Next-Generation Architectures and Augmentation

The field is moving towards sophisticated architectures and advanced data augmentation. This includes developing foundation models pre-trained on large-scale medical imaging datasets, and employing self-supervised learning approaches. Techniques like GANs and diffusion models are critical for generating realistic synthetic data, especially for dense breasts and rare conditions. Furthermore, multi-view integration (CC and MLO views) using dual-stream CNNs, attention-based fusion, and Siamese networks significantly outperform single-view approaches.

Bridging Research to Real-World Clinical Practice

For effective clinical translation, DL models need to move beyond binary classification to comprehensive BI-RADS categorization (0-6), including hierarchical classification networks. Optimization of digital mammography (FFDM) is crucial, especially for dense breasts. Future directions include developing reliable models for future risk prediction through longitudinal studies and multi-instance learning, and seamless CAD system integration into clinical workflows, requiring interdisciplinary research and regulatory approval.

Enterprise Process Flow: PRISMA Study Selection

Records identified from databases (n=1051)
Records removed before screening (Duplicates) (n=363)
Records screened (n=688)
Records excluded (n=70)
Reports sought for retrieval (n=618)
Reports not retrieved (n=16)
Reports assessed for eligibility (n=602)
Reports excluded (n=315)
New studies included in review (n=287)
80.2% Projected increase in breast cancer deaths in India (2022-2045)

Comparison of DL Challenges: Caucasian vs. Asian Datasets

Aspect Caucasian Datasets Asian Datasets
Breast Density
  • Lower average density
  • Extensive research (24 studies)
  • Higher average density (complicates detection)
  • Limited research (5 studies)
Dataset Availability
  • Many public, well-annotated datasets (e.g., CBIS-DDSM)
  • Lower annotation burden for classification
  • Limited publicly available, annotated datasets (e.g., CMMD lacks ROI, VinDr-Mammo lacks pathology)
  • High annotation burden for pixel-level tasks
Model Generalizability
  • Models often trained on Caucasian data, may not perform well on diverse populations
  • Unique demographic profiles and imaging characteristics require tailored models

Impact of Data Diversity on DL Models for Breast Cancer Detection

The current review highlights a significant challenge: DL models trained predominantly on Caucasian datasets perform less effectively on mammograms from Asian populations due to higher breast density and unique imaging characteristics in Asian women.

To address this, the research emphasizes the need for greater collaboration in collecting and sharing diverse datasets from Asian populations. This includes implementing federated learning frameworks and domain adaptation techniques to account for population-specific breast tissue characteristics.

By developing models using diverse datasets, researchers can ensure more accurate, unbiased, and universally effective breast cancer detection systems, leading to improved diagnostic precision and patient outcomes globally.

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