# Semi-Supervised Deep Learning for Abnormality Classification in Retinal Images Source: [Semi-Supervised Deep Learning for Abnormality Classification in Retinal Images]() Collection index: [llms.txt]() Data updated: 2025-10-25T21:20:52.699Z Authors: Bruno Lecouat, Ken Chang, Chuan-Sheng Foo, Balagopal Unnikrishnan, James M. Brown, Houssam Zenati, Andrew Beers, Vijay Chandrasekhar, Jayashree Kalpathy-Cramer, Pavitra Krishnaswamy Published: 2018-12-19T09:18:56.000Z ## Abstract Supervised deep learning algorithms have enabled significant performance gains in medical image classification tasks. But these methods rely on large labeled datasets that require resource-intensive expert annotation. Semi-supervised generative adversarial network (GAN) approaches offer a means to learn from limited labeled data alongside larger unlabeled datasets, but have not been applied to discern fine-scale, sparse or localized features that define medical abnormalities. To overcome these limitations, we propose a patch-based semi-supervised learning approach and evaluate performance on classification of diabetic retinopathy from funduscopic images. Our semi-supervised approach achieves high AUC with just 10-20 labeled training images, and outperforms the supervised baselines by upto 15% when less than 30% of the training dataset is labeled. Further, our method implicitly enables interpretation of the SSL predictions. As this approach enables good accuracy, resolution and interpretability with lower annotation burden, it sets the pathway for scalable applications of deep learning in clinical imaging. ## Recorded benchmark results A research result applies to its stated dataset, split, metric and evaluation configuration. Compare like-for-like settings, preserve the metric's unit and direction, and distinguish paper-reported results from independent reproduction. The best result recorded here is not a claim of exhaustive, current global coverage. ## Original sources and implementation [Original paper]() [PDF]()