AI-based skin cancer detection algorithms: opportunities, challenges and a way forward

Authors

  • Muhammad Shaheer Department of Computing, Hamdard University, Islamabad Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1928-5926
  • Tayyaba Arooj Department of Computing, Hamdard University, Islamabad Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6273-7938
  • Hannan Adeel Department of Computing, Hamdard University, Islamabad Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • Tahir Saleem Department of Computing, Hamdard University, Islamabad Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7828-5382
  • Inamur Rehman Rao Department of Information Technology, Hamdard University, Islamabad Campus, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9180-9758

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.ajset/4.1.6

Keywords:

Artificial intelligence, Deep learning, Convolutional neural network, Melanoma, Skin lesions, Malignant skin lesions, Benign skin lesions, Clinical practice

Abstract

Skin cancer is a significant global health concern. Early and accurate detection is crucial for enhancing patient outcomes. This study conducts an in-depth literature review to identify commonly used Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) variants, datasets, and key evaluation metrics to assess their performance in classifying benign and malignant skin lesions. Widely used CNN architectures, including ResNet, EfficientNet, DenseNet, AlexNet, VGG, GoogleNet, LeNet-5, Xception, and MobileNet were implemented. A comparative analysis is conducted based on metrics such as accuracy, precision, sensitivity, recall, and F1-score, highlighting the strengths and limitations of each algorithm. The results show that VGG-16 outperforms other models with an accuracy of 97%, followed by VGG-19 and Mobilenet-v2 with 88%. Lastly, this paper highlights the trade-offs between various metrics, providing critical insights for deploying AI-based skin cancer detection algorithms in clinical practice.

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Published

2025-06-23

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles

How to Cite

Shaheer, M., Arooj, T., Adeel, H., Saleem, T., & Rao, I. R. (2025). AI-based skin cancer detection algorithms: opportunities, challenges and a way forward. Asian Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology (AJSET), 4(1), 87-109. https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.ajset/4.1.6

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