A Fuzzy Minkowski Distance-based fusion of convolutional neural networks for gastrointestinal disease detection

Abstract

Accurate classification of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions from medical images is a critical task for facilitating timely diagnosis and effective treatment. However, the reliance on manual diagnosis introduces the possibility of human errors. In response, researchers have been tirelessly working to develop robust computerized methods that can significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy. In this study, we present a novel approach designed to elevate the precision of classification tasks through the utilization of a Fuzzy Minkowski Distance-based Ensemble Model. Our ensemble model is accurately constructed by integrating three well-established pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) models: MobileNet, ResNet101V2, and Xception. To enhance the robustness of these base models, we incorporate ResNeXt block, effectively amplifying their ability in feature extraction and representation. Furthermore, we extract probabilities from these models and aggregate them using a fuzzy Minkowski Distance approach. This technique serves to minimize error values between observed and ground-truth data, leading to a further enhancement in detection accuracy. For our experiments, we utilize a publicly available dataset containing 6000 endoscopy images. These images are not only enhanced through the application of image contrast enhancement techniques but are also subjected to augmentation processes, effectively enhancing the dataset's diversity and contributing to improved performance in the classification task. After conducting comprehensive assessments, we highlight the strength of our ensemble model compared to single base models and existing methods. The ensemble consistently achieves an impressive accuracy of 99.62%, showcasing its potential as a powerful tool for accurate diagnosis in the field of gastroenterology.