Improving model fairness in image-based computer-aided diagnosis.

TitleImproving model fairness in image-based computer-aided diagnosis.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2023
AuthorsLin M, Li T, Yang Y, Holste G, Ding Y, Van Tassel SH, Kovacs K, Shih G, Wang Z, Lu Z, Wang F, Peng Y
JournalNat Commun
Volume14
Issue1
Pagination6261
Date Published2023 Oct 06
ISSN2041-1723
KeywordsAlgorithms, Computers, Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted, Humans, Reproducibility of Results
Abstract

Deep learning has become a popular tool for computer-aided diagnosis using medical images, sometimes matching or exceeding the performance of clinicians. However, these models can also reflect and amplify human bias, potentially resulting inaccurate missed diagnoses. Despite this concern, the problem of improving model fairness in medical image classification by deep learning has yet to be fully studied. To address this issue, we propose an algorithm that leverages the marginal pairwise equal opportunity to reduce bias in medical image classification. Our evaluations across four tasks using four independent large-scale cohorts demonstrate that our proposed algorithm not only improves fairness in individual and intersectional subgroups but also maintains overall performance. Specifically, the relative change in pairwise fairness difference between our proposed model and the baseline model was reduced by over 35%, while the relative change in AUC value was typically within 1%. By reducing the bias generated by deep learning models, our proposed approach can potentially alleviate concerns about the fairness and reliability of image-based computer-aided diagnosis.

DOI10.1038/s41467-023-41974-4
Alternate JournalNat Commun
PubMed ID37803009
PubMed Central IDPMC10558498