Cervical image classification based on image segmentation preprocessing and a CapsNet network model

Abstract Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies, and when detected and treated at an early stage, the cure rate is almost 100%. Colposcopy can be used to diagnose cervical lesions by direct observation of the surface of the cervix using microscopic biopsy and pathological examination, which can improve the diagnosis rate and ensure that patients receive fast and effective treatment. Digital colposcopy and automatic image analysis can reduce the work burden on doctors, improve work efficiency, and help healthcare institutions to make better treatment decisions in underdeveloped areas. The present study used a deep‐learning model to classify the images of cervical lesions. Clinicians could determine patient treatment based on the type of cervix, which greatly improved the diagnostic efficiency and accuracy. The present study was divided into two parts. First, convolutional neural networks were used to segment the lesions in the cervical images; and second, a neural network model similar to CapsNet was used to identify and classify the cervical images. Finally, the training set accuracy of our model was 99%, the test set accuracy was 80.1%, it obtained better results than other classification methods, and it realized rapid classification and prediction of mass image data.