Validation metrics are key for tracking scientific progress and bridging the current chasm between artificial intelligence research and its translation into practice. However, increasing evidence shows that, particularly in image analysis, metrics are often chosen inadequately. Although taking into account the individual strengths, weaknesses and limitations of validation metrics is a critical prerequisite to making educated choices, the relevant knowledge is currently scattered and poorly accessible to individual researchers. Based on a multistage Delphi process conducted by a multidisciplinary expert consortium as well as extensive community feedback, the present work provides a reliable and comprehensive common point of access to information on pitfalls related to validation metrics in image analysis. Although focused on biomedical image analysis, the addressed pitfalls generalize across application domains and are categorized according to a newly created, domain-agnostic taxonomy. The work serves to enhance global comprehension of a key topic in image analysis validation. This Perspective presents a reliable and comprehensive source of information on pitfalls related to validation metrics in image analysis, with an emphasis on biomedical imaging.
FörderungenResearch Chairs and Senior Research Fellowships scheme natural sciences and engineering research council of canada NIH Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Medical Engineering National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Surgical Oncology Program of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers in the scope of the Helmholtz Imaging Incubator Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic National Institutes of Health Canon Medical Terttu foundation Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia Academy of Finland Alzheimer's Society Junior Fellowship European Research Council Dutch Cancer Association Dutch Research Council Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers in the scope of the Helmholtz Imaging Incubator (HI)