Lung cancer detection and classification using optimized CNN features and Squeeze-Inception-ResNeXt model

Lung cancer, with its high mortality rate, is one of the deadliest diseases globally. The alarming increase in lung cancer deaths and its widespread prevalence have led to the development of various cancer control research and early detection methods aimed at reducing mortality rates. Effective diagnostic techniques are crucial for lowering lung cancer incidence, as early detection significantly impacts treatment success. Human error can often impede accurate identification of lung nodules, in which Computer-Aided Diagnostic (CAD) systems are utilized. These systems help radiologists by automating diagnostic processes and improving accuracy of detecting and classifying malignancies. This paper aims to develop a deep learning approach for classifying lung diseases using chest Computed Tomography (CT) scan images. The approach starts with image pre-processing, including color space conversion, data augmentation, resizing, and normalization. Feature extraction is carried out using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) optimized with Slime Mould Algorithm (SMA). For classification, a novel approach combining Squeeze-Inception V3 with ResNeXt, referred to as Squeeze-Inception-ResNeXt, is proposed. The Squeeze-Inception-ResNeXt model benefits from reduced computational cost while maintaining high performance in classifying lung diseases. This model categorizes lung diseases into Adenocarcinoma, Large Cell Carcinoma, and Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Additionally, SMA is utilized in training the Squeeze-Inception-ResNeXt model. Experimental results show that Squeeze-Inception-ResNeXt surpasses traditional models, with an accuracy of 97.7 %, sensitivity of 98.1 %, and specificity of 97.4 %.