Back to all papers

Grad-CAM (Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping): A systematic literature review.

October 17, 2025pubmed logopapers

Authors

Fayyaz AM,Abdulkadir SJ,Talpur N,Al-Selwi SM,Hassan SU,Sumiea EH

Affiliations (6)

  • Department of Computing, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • Department of Computing, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, Malaysia; Center for Research in Data Science (CeRDaS), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • Department of Computing, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, Malaysia; Center for Research in Data Science (CeRDaS), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • Department of Computing, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, Malaysia; Center for Research in Data Science (CeRDaS), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • Department of Computing, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, Malaysia; Centre for Intelligent Signal & Imaging Research (CISIR), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • Department of Computing, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Perak, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) has become a crucial aspect of modern Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) applications, emphasizing transparency and trust in model predictions. Among various XAI techniques, Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) stands out for its ability to visually interpret Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) by highlighting image regions that contribute significantly to decision-making. This Systematic Literature Review (SLR) provides a comprehensive analysis of Grad-CAM, its advancements in medical imaging, and applications in ML and DL. The review explores current research trends, variations of Grad-CAM, and its integration with different ML/DL architectures. A systematic search across Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, and ScienceDirect identified 427 peer-reviewed publications (2020-2024), of which 51 were selected for in-depth examination. This study offers valuable insights into the evolution of Grad-CAM, its optimization techniques, and its role in improving model interpretability in medical imaging analysis and related fields.

Topics

Journal ArticleReview

Ready to Sharpen Your Edge?

Subscribe to join 11k+ peers who rely on RadAI Slice. Get the essential weekly briefing that empowers you to navigate the future of radiology.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.