Chronic liver disease detection using deep convolutional neural networks with MRI data: a deep learning approach

Purpose Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a significant health issue, and detection is crucial for effective treatment. This study aimed to develop a deep learning based convolutional neural network (DeepCNN) to differentiate CLD from non-CLD patients using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images without segmentation, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and supporting timely intervention. Material and methods A retrospective study was conducted using MRI data from 184 patients collected between 2018 and 2024, totaling 1112 images (460 normal, 652 CLD). Various MRI sequences, including axial T1, T2, and coronal, were used. The images were preprocessed with resizing, augmentation, and normalization techniques. The DeepCNN model was trained and compared against traditional machine learning (ML) algorithms, including logistic regression, k-nearest neighbor, support vector machines, and random forest. Model performance was evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and confusion matrices. Results The DeepCNN model achieved a 93% accuracy and an F1-score of 0.939. Precision and recall for CLD classification were 97% and 98%, respectively. In comparison, traditional ML algorithms performed with accuracies ranging from 72.31% to 83.16%, with random forest achieving the highest. The DeepCNN model significantly outperformed these methods, demonstrating its strength in medical image classification. Using axial-only images reduced accuracy to 86%, showing that coronal views contribute valuable information. Limitation of data constrained learning. Conclusions The DeepCNN model provides superior accuracy in diagnosing CLD compared to traditional ML me­thods, using MRI images without segmentation. This approach offers a practical solution for improving CLD detection and paves the way for future enhancements using attention mechanisms and advanced deep learning architectures.