Early Diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Using YOLOv8 and YOLOv11 Deep Learning Models

Abstract

Leukemia, a severe form of blood cancer, claims thousands of lives each year. This study focuses on the detection of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) using advanced image processing and deep learning techniques. By leveraging recent advancements in artificial intelligence, the research evaluates the reliability of these methods in practical, real-world scenarios. Specifically, it examines the performance of state-of-the-art YOLO models, including YOLOv8 and YOLOv11, to distinguish between malignant and benign white blood cells and accurately identify different stages of ALL, including early stages. Moreover, the models demonstrate the ability to detect hematogones, which are frequently misclassified as ALL. With accuracy rates reaching $\mathbf{9 8. 8 \%}$, this study highlights the potential of these algorithms to provide robust and precise leukemia detection across diverse datasets and conditions.