A deep ensemble learning approach for squamous cell classification in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer, arising from the cells of the cervix, the lower segment of the uterus connected to the vagina-poses a significant health threat. The microscopic examination of cervical cells using Pap smear techniques plays a crucial role in identifying potential cancerous alterations. While developed nations demonstrate commendable efficiency in Pap smear acquisition, the process remains laborious and time-intensive. Conversely, in less developed regions, there is a pressing need for streamlined, computer-aided methodologies for the pre-analysis and treatment of cervical cancer. This study focuses on the classification of squamous cells into five distinct classes, providing a nuanced assessment of cervical cancer severity. Utilizing a dataset comprising over 4096 images from SimpakMed, available on Kaggle, we employed ensemble technique which included the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), AlexNet, and SqueezeNet for image classification, achieving accuracies of 90.8%, 92%, and 91% respectively. Particularly noteworthy is the proposed ensemble technique, which surpasses individual model performances, achieving an impressive accuracy of 94%. This ensemble approach underscores the efficacy of our method in precise squamous cell classification and, consequently, in gauging the severity of cervical cancer. The results represent a promising advancement in the development of more efficient diagnostic tools for cervical cancer in resource-constrained settings.