A benchmark for neural network robustness in skin cancer classification

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Roman C. Maron - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Justin G. Schlager - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Sarah Haggenmüller - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Christof von Kalle - , Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (Author)
  • Jochen S. Utikal - , Heidelberg University , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Friedegund Meier - , Department of Dermatology, Skin Tumor Center, National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, University Cancer Centre Dresden (Author)
  • Frank F. Gellrich - , Department of Dermatology, Skin Tumor Center, National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, University Cancer Centre Dresden (Author)
  • Sarah Hobelsberger - , Department of Dermatology, Skin Tumor Center, National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, University Cancer Centre Dresden (Author)
  • Axel Hauschild - , University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (Author)
  • Lars French - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Lucie Heinzerling - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Max Schlaak - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Kamran Ghoreschi - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Franz J. Hilke - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Gabriela Poch - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Markus V. Heppt - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Carola Berking - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Sebastian Haferkamp - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Wiebke Sondermann - , University of Duisburg-Essen (Author)
  • Dirk Schadendorf - , University of Duisburg-Essen (Author)
  • Bastian Schilling - , University of Würzburg (Author)
  • Matthias Goebeler - , University of Würzburg (Author)
  • Eva Krieghoff-Henning - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Achim Hekler - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Stefan Fröhling - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Daniel B. Lipka - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Jakob N. Kather - , University Hospital Aachen (Author)
  • Titus J. Brinker - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)

Abstract

Background: One prominent application for deep learning–based classifiers is skin cancer classification on dermoscopic images. However, classifier evaluation is often limited to holdout data which can mask common shortcomings such as susceptibility to confounding factors. To increase clinical applicability, it is necessary to thoroughly evaluate such classifiers on out-of-distribution (OOD) data. Objective: The objective of the study was to establish a dermoscopic skin cancer benchmark in which classifier robustness to OOD data can be measured. Methods: Using a proprietary dermoscopic image database and a set of image transformations, we create an OOD robustness benchmark and evaluate the robustness of four different convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures on it. Results: The benchmark contains three data sets—Skin Archive Munich (SAM), SAM-corrupted (SAM-C) and SAM-perturbed (SAM-P)—and is publicly available for download. To maintain the benchmark's OOD status, ground truth labels are not provided and test results should be sent to us for assessment. The SAM data set contains 319 unmodified and biopsy-verified dermoscopic melanoma (n = 194) and nevus (n = 125) images. SAM-C and SAM-P contain images from SAM which were artificially modified to test a classifier against low-quality inputs and to measure its prediction stability over small image changes, respectively. All four CNNs showed susceptibility to corruptions and perturbations. Conclusions: This benchmark provides three data sets which allow for OOD testing of binary skin cancer classifiers. Our classifier performance confirms the shortcomings of CNNs and provides a frame of reference. Altogether, this benchmark should facilitate a more thorough evaluation process and thereby enable the development of more robust skin cancer classifiers.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)191-199
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean journal of cancer
Volume155
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-2164-4644/work/148607192
Scopus 85110706464
PubMed 34388516
ORCID /0000-0003-4340-9706/work/159608222

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Artificial intelligence, Benchmarking, Deep learning, Dermatology, Melanoma, Nevus, Skin neoplasms