An Artificial Intelligence Computer-vision Algorithm to Triage Otoscopic Images From Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children

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Habib, Al-Rahim
Crossland, Graeme
Patel, Hemi
Wong, Eugene
Kong, Kelvin
Gunasekera, Hasantha
Richards, Brent
Caffery, Liam
Perry, Chris
Sacks, Raymond
Kumar, Ashnil
Singh, Narinder
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2022
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Abstract

Objective:To develop an artificial intelligence image classification algorithm to triage otoscopic images from rural and remote Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.Study Design:Retrospective observational study.Setting:Tertiary referral center.Patients:Rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who underwent tele-otology ear health screening in the Northern Territory, Australia between 2010 and 2018.Intervention(s):Otoscopic images were labeled by otolaryngologists to classify the ground truth. Deep and transfer learning methods were used to develop an image classification algorithm.Main Outcome Measures:Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, area under the curve (AUC) of the resultant algorithm compared with the ground truth.Results:Six thousand five hundred twenty seven images were used (5927 images for training and 600 for testing). The algorithm achieved an accuracy of 99.3% for acute otitis media, 96.3% for chronic otitis media, 77.8% for otitis media with effusion (OME), and 98.2% to classify wax/obstructed canal. To differentiate between multiple diagnoses, the algorithm achieved 74.4 to 92.8% accuracy and an AUC of 0.963 to 0.997. The most common incorrect classification pattern was OME misclassified as normal tympanic membranes.Conclusions:The paucity of access to tertiary otolaryngology care for rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities may contribute to an under-identification of ear disease. Computer vision image classification algorithms can accurately classify ear disease from otoscopic images of Indigenous Australian children. In the future, a validated algorithm may integrate with existing telemedicine initiatives to support effective triage and facilitate early treatment and referral.

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Otology & Neurotology

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43

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4

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Science & Technology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Clinical Neurology

Otorhinolaryngology

Neurosciences & Neurology

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Habib, A-R; Crossland, G; Patel, H; Wong, E; Kong, K; Gunasekera, H; Richards, B; Caffery, L; Perry, C; Sacks, R; Kumar, A; Singh, N, An Artificial Intelligence Computer-vision Algorithm to Triage Otoscopic Images From Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children, Otology & Neurotology, 2022, 43 (4), pp. 481-488

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