On the Implementation of a Post-Pandemic Deep Learning Algorithm Based on a Hybrid CT-Scan/X-ray Images Classification Applied to Pneumonia Categories

The identification and characterization of lung diseases is one of the most interesting research topics in recent years. They require accurate and rapid diagnosis. Although lung imaging techniques have many advantages for disease diagnosis, the interpretation of medial lung images has always been a major problem for physicians and radiologists due to diagnostic errors. This has encouraged the use of modern artificial intelligence techniques such as deep learning. In this paper, a deep learning architecture based on EfficientNetB7, known as the most advanced architecture among convolutional networks, has been constructed for classification of medical X-ray and CT images of lungs into three classes namely: common pneumonia, coronavirus pneumonia and normal cases. In terms of accuracy, the proposed model is compared with recent pneumonia detection techniques. The results provided robust and consistent features to this system for pneumonia detection with predictive accuracy according to the three classes mentioned above for both imaging modalities: radiography at 99.81% and CT at 99.88%. This work implements an accurate computer-aided system for the analysis of radiographic and CT medical images. The results of the classification are promising and will certainly improve the diagnosis and decision making of lung diseases that keep appearing over time.