Machine learning via DARTS-Optimized MobileViT models for pancreatic Cancer diagnosis with graph-based deep learning

The diagnosis of pancreatic cancer presents a significant challenge due to the asymptomatic nature of the disease and the fact that it is frequently detected at an advanced stage. This study presents a novel approach combining graph-based data representation with DARTS-optimised MobileViT models, with the objective of enhancing diagnostic accuracy and reliability. The images of the pancreatic CT were transformed into graph structures using the Harris Corner Detection algorithm, which enables the capture of complex spatial relationships. Subsequently, the graph representations were processed using MobileViT models that had been optimised with Differentiable Architecture Search (DARTS), thereby enabling dynamic architectural adaptation. To further enhance classification accuracy, advanced machine learning algorithms, including K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and XGBoost, were applied. The MobileViTv2_150 and MobileViTv2_200 models demonstrated remarkable performance, with an accuracy of 97.33% and an F1 score of 96.25%, surpassing the capabilities of traditional CNN and Vision Transformer models. This innovative integration of graph-based deep learning and machine learning techniques demonstrates the potential of the proposed method to establish a new standard for early pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Furthermore, the study highlights the scalability of this approach for broader applications in medical imaging, which could lead to improved patient outcomes.