Explainability in Generative Medical Diffusion Models: A Faithfulness-Based Analysis on MRI Synthesis

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Dey, Surjo, Saikia, Pallabi
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Dey, Surjo
Saikia, Pallabi
author_facet Dey, Surjo
Saikia, Pallabi
contents This study investigates the explainability of generative diffusion models in the context of medical imaging, focusing on Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) synthesis. Although diffusion models have shown strong performance in generating realistic medical images, their internal decision making process remains largely opaque. We present a faithfulness-based explainability framework that analyzes how prototype-based explainability methods like ProtoPNet (PPNet), Enhanced ProtoPNet (EPPNet), and ProtoPool can link the relationship between generated and training features. Our study focuses on understanding the reasoning behind image formation through denoising trajectory of diffusion model and subsequently prototype explainability with faithfulness analysis. Experimental analysis shows that EPPNet achieves the highest faithfulness (with score 0.1534), offering more reliable insights, and explainability into the generative process. The results highlight that diffusion models can be made more transparent and trustworthy through faithfulness-based explanations, contributing to safer and more interpretable applications of generative AI in healthcare.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_09781
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Explainability in Generative Medical Diffusion Models: A Faithfulness-Based Analysis on MRI Synthesis
Dey, Surjo
Saikia, Pallabi
Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence
This study investigates the explainability of generative diffusion models in the context of medical imaging, focusing on Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) synthesis. Although diffusion models have shown strong performance in generating realistic medical images, their internal decision making process remains largely opaque. We present a faithfulness-based explainability framework that analyzes how prototype-based explainability methods like ProtoPNet (PPNet), Enhanced ProtoPNet (EPPNet), and ProtoPool can link the relationship between generated and training features. Our study focuses on understanding the reasoning behind image formation through denoising trajectory of diffusion model and subsequently prototype explainability with faithfulness analysis. Experimental analysis shows that EPPNet achieves the highest faithfulness (with score 0.1534), offering more reliable insights, and explainability into the generative process. The results highlight that diffusion models can be made more transparent and trustworthy through faithfulness-based explanations, contributing to safer and more interpretable applications of generative AI in healthcare.
title Explainability in Generative Medical Diffusion Models: A Faithfulness-Based Analysis on MRI Synthesis
topic Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.09781