Sara Salehi

Dr. Sara Salehi

Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Indiana, USA
orcid
Radiology Research Fellow

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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15 August 2025 in Bioengineering
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Yashbir SinghYashbir Singh
Yashbir Singh
Quincy Alexander HathawayQuincy Alexander Hathaway
Quincy Alexander Hathaway
VKVarekan Keishing
Varekan Keishing
Sara SalehiSara Salehi
Sara Salehi
YWYujia Wei
Yujia Wei
JAJesper B Andersen
Jesper B Andersen
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical imaging has revolutionized diagnostic capabilities, yet the black-box nature of deep learning models poses significant challenges for clinical adoption. Current explainable AI (XAI) approaches, including SHAP, LIME, and Grad-CAM, predominantly focus on post hoc explanations that may inadvertently undermine clinical decision-making by providing misleading confidence in AI outputs. This paper presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of 67 studies (covering 23 radiology, 19 pathology, and 25 ophthalmology applications) evaluating XAI fidelity, stability, and performance trade-offs across medical imaging modalities. Our meta-analysis of 847 initially identified studies reveals that LIME achieves superior fidelity (0.81, 95% CI: 0.78–0.84) compared to SHAP (0.38, 95% CI: 0.35–0.41) and Grad-CAM (0.54, 95% CI: 0.51–0.57) across all modalities. Post hoc explanations demonstrated poor stability under noise perturbation, with SHAP showing 53% degradation in ophthalmology applications (ρ = 0.42 at 10% noise) compared to 11% in radiology (ρ = 0.89). We demonstrate a consistent 5–7% AUC performance penalty for interpretable models but identify modality-specific stability patterns suggesting that tailored XAI approaches are necessary. Based on these empirical findings, we propose a comprehensive three-pillar accountability framework that prioritizes transparency in model development, interpretability in architecture design, and a cautious deployment of post hoc explanations with explicit uncertainty quantification. This approach offers a pathway toward genuinely accountable AI systems that enhance rather than compromise clinical decision-making quality and patient safety.

26 November 2025 in Bioengineering
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Sara SalehiSara Salehi
Sara Salehi
Yashbir SinghYashbir Singh
Yashbir Singh
KHKelly Horst
Kelly Horst
Quincy Alexander HathawayQuincy Alexander Hathaway
Quincy Alexander Hathaway
BEBradley J. Erickson
Bradley J. Erickson
The field of radiology is experiencing rapid adoption of large language models (LLMs), yet their tendency to generate hallucinations (plausible but incorrect information) remains a significant barrier to trust. This comprehensive review evaluates emerging agentic artificial intelligence (AI) approaches, including multi-agent role-based systems, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and uncertainty quantification, to assess their potential for reducing hallucinations in radiology workflows. Evidence from 2024 to 2025 demonstrates that agentic AI can improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce error rates, though these methods remain computationally demanding and lack comprehensive clinical validation. Multi-agent frameworks enable cross-validation through role-based specialization and systematic workflow orchestration, while RAG strategies enhance accuracy by grounding responses in verified medical literature. Within multi-agent systems, uncertainty quantification enables agents to communicate confidence levels to one another, allowing them to appropriately weigh each other’s contributions during collaborative analysis. While multi-agent frameworks and RAG strategies show significant promise, practical deployment will require careful integration with human oversight, robust evaluation metrics tailored to medical imaging tasks, and regulatory adaptation to ensure safe clinical use in diverse patient populations and imaging modalities.

13 October 2025 in Bioengineering
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Sara SalehiSara Salehi
Sara Salehi
Yashbir SinghYashbir Singh
Yashbir Singh
PHParnian Habibi
Parnian Habibi
BEBradley J. Erickson
Bradley J. Erickson
Radiology is undergoing a paradigm shift from traditional single-function AI systems to sophisticated multi-agent networks capable of autonomous reasoning, coordinated decision-making, and adaptive workflow management. These agentic AI systems move beyond simple pattern recognition to encompass complex radiological workflows including image analysis, report generation, clinical communication, and care coordination. While multi-agent radiological AI promises enhanced diagnostic accuracy, improved workflow efficiency, and reduced physician burden, it simultaneously amplifies the long-standing “black box” problem. Traditional explainable AI methods, which are adequate for understanding isolated diagnostic predictions, fail when applied to multi-step reasoning processes involving multiple specialized agents coordinating across imaging interpretation, clinical correlation, and treatment planning. This paper examines how agentic AI systems in radiology create “compound opacity” layers of inscrutability from agent interactions and distributed decision-making processes. We analyze the autonomy–transparency paradox specific to radiological practice, where increasing AI capability directly conflicts with interpretability requirements essential for clinical trust and regulatory oversight. Through examination of emerging multi-agent radiological workflows, we propose frameworks for responsible implementation that preserve both diagnostic innovation and the fundamental principles of medical transparency and accountability.

22 May 2024 in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
FKFarhad Koohpeyma
Farhad Koohpeyma
ZKZahra Khodaparast
Zahra Khodaparast
Sara SalehiSara Salehi
Sara Salehi
SDSina Danesh
Sina Danesh
FGFarhad Mohammadi Gheshlagh
Farhad Mohammadi Gheshlagh
NMNima Montazeri-Najafabady
Nima Montazeri-Najafabady
Background: This study investigated the effect of curcumin nanomicelle (CUR-n) on the structure of testis tissue, the process of spermatogenesis, LH, FSH, testosterone, and oxidative stress in a model of multiple sclerosis. Methods: Twenty-four male mice C57BL/6 were randomly allocated into 4 groups of 6 (1: group receiving 2% CPZ diet, 2: group receiving the diet of 2% CPZ + CUR-n with a dose of 50 mg/kg, 3: group receiving the diet of 2% CPZ + CUR-n with a dose of 100 mg/kg). The concentration of hormones (testosterone, LH and FSH), was measured by the special hormone assay ELISA kits. Measuring total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels was done by spectrophotometry and calorimetric methods, respectively. Stereological analysis was done in order to explore the number of spermatogenesis cells, testis and sperm properties. Results: The results indicated that CUR-n (100 mg/kg) significantly enhanced the concentration of LH, FSH, testosterone, and TAC but reduced MDA levels. It also notably increased the quantity of spermatogonia, spermatocyte, round spermatids, long spermatids and LCs, augmented testis weight and volume, and germinal epithelium volume, improved sperm count, morphology, viability, and motility. In addition, a considerable decrease in the amount of wrinkling and disruption of the germinal epithelium was observed after intervention with CUR-n (100 mg/kg). Furthermore, a significant increase in the number of germ cells compared to the group receiving CPZ was detected. Conclusion: This study proposes that CUR-n could be a therapeutic agent for decreasing the adverse effects of MS on testis.

25 August 2025 in Tomography
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Yashbir SinghYashbir Singh
Yashbir Singh
JAJesper B Andersen
Jesper B Andersen
Quincy Alexander HathawayQuincy Alexander Hathaway
Quincy Alexander Hathaway
DGDiana V Vera Garcia
Diana V Vera Garcia
VKVarekan Keishing
Varekan Keishing
Emilio QuaiaEmilio Quaia
Emilio Quaia
This review explores how multimodal foundation models (MFMs) are transforming biliary tract cancer (BTC) research. BTCs are aggressive malignancies with poor prognosis, presenting unique challenges due to difficult diagnostic methods, molecular complexity, and rarity. Importantly, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA), and distal bile duct cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA) represent fundamentally distinct clinical entities, with iCCA presenting as mass-forming lesions amenable to biopsy and targeted therapies, while pCCA manifests as infiltrative bile duct lesions with challenging diagnosis and primarily palliative management approaches. MFMs offer potential to advance research by integrating radiological images, histopathology, multi-omics profiles, and clinical data into unified computational frameworks, with applications tailored to these distinct BTC subtypes. Key applications include enhanced biomarker discovery that identifies previously unrecognizable cross-modal patterns, potential for improving currently limited diagnostic accuracy—though validation in BTC-specific cohorts remains essential—accelerated drug repurposing, and advanced patient stratification for personalized treatment. Despite promising results, challenges such as data scarcity, high computational demands, and clinical workflow integration remain to be addressed. Future research should focus on standardized data protocols, architectural innovations, and prospective validation studies. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-based methodologies offers new solutions for these historically challenging malignancies. However, current evidence for BTC-specific applications remains largely theoretical, with most studies limited to proof-of-concept designs or related cancer types. Comprehensive clinical validation studies and prospective trials demonstrating patient benefit are essential prerequisites for clinical implementation. The timeline for evidence-based clinical adoption likely extends 7–10 years, contingent on successful completion of validation studies addressing current evidence gaps.

23 May 2024 in Archives of Osteoporosis
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
ANArzhang Naseri
Arzhang Naseri
MBMarzieh Bakhshayeshkaram
Marzieh Bakhshayeshkaram
Sara SalehiSara Salehi
Sara Salehi
SHSeyed taghi Heydari
Seyed taghi Heydari
MDMohammad Hossein Dabbaghmanesh
Mohammad Hossein Dabbaghmanesh
MDMohammad Mahdi Dabbaghmanesh
Mohammad Mahdi Dabbaghmanesh