Comparing Explainable Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning Models for MRI-Based Brain Tumor Diagnosis
PDF File

Keywords

Brain tumor
Classification
MRI
Deep learning
LIME

How to Cite

Comparing Explainable Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning Models for MRI-Based Brain Tumor Diagnosis. (2026). Computers and Electronics in Medicine, 3(2), 148-155. https://doi.org/10.69882/adba.cem.2026075

Abstract

Brain tumors represent one of the most life-threatening diseases, and their early and accurate detection is critical for improving patient outcomes. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the most reliable imaging technique for identifying brain tumors, yet manual interpretation by radiologists is time-consuming and prone to errors. To address these challenges, this study investigates the application of deep learning architectures, including Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), VGG16, VGG19, ResNet50, and MobileNet, for brain tumor detection and classification. A publicly available MRI dataset consisting of glioma, meningioma, pituitary, and no-tumor cases was used. The models were trained and evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, ROC curves, and confusion matrices, while interpretability was assessed using Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME). Experimental results demonstrate that ResNet50 achieved the highest performance with 96.9% accuracy, followed closely by MobileNet at 96.6%, whereas CNN performed less effectively at 87.9%. The findings confirm that advanced deep learning architectures not only achieve high classification accuracy but also improve interpretability, thereby offering reliable and clinically applicable solutions for automated brain tumor diagnosis.

PDF File

References

Alpsalaz, F., Y. Özüpak, E. Aslan, and H. Uzel, 2025 Classification of maize leaf diseases with deep learning: Performance evaluation of the proposed model and use of explicable artificial intelligence. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems 262: 105412.

Amin, J., M. Sharif, A. Haldorai, M. Yasmin, and R. S. Nayak, 2022 Brain tumor detection and classification using machine learning: A comprehensive survey. Complex and Intelligent Systems 8: 3161–3183.

Anantharajan, S., S. Gunasekaran, T. Subramanian, and V. R., 2024 MRI brain tumor detection using deep learning and machine learning approaches. Measurement: Sensors 31: 101026.

Aslan, E., 2024 LSTM-ESA hibrit modeli ile MR görüntülerinden beyin tümörünün sınıflandırılması. Adıyaman Üniversitesi Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi 11: 63–81.

Aslan, E. and Y. Özüpak, 2024a Advanced skin cancer detection using convolutional neural networks and transfer learning. Middle East Journal of Science 10: 167–178.

Aslan, E. and Y. Özüpak, 2024b Classification of blood cells with convolutional neural network model. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 13: 314–326.

Aslan, E. and Y. Özüpak, 2025a Comparison of machine learning algorithms for automatic prediction of alzheimer disease. Journal of the Chinese Medical Association 88: 98–107.

Aslan, E. and Y. Özüpak, 2025b Performance comparison of deep learning models in brain tumor classification. Balkan Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering 13: 203–209.

Aslan, E., Y. Özüpak, F. Alpsalaz, and Z. M. S. Elbarbary, 2025 A hybrid machine learning approach for predicting power transformer failures using internet of things-based monitoring and explainable artificial intelligence. IEEE Access 13: 113618–113633.

Bayram, B., I. Kunduracioglu, S. Ince, and I. Pacal, 2025 A systematic review of deep learning in MRI-based cerebral vascular occlusion-based brain diseases. Neuroscience 568: 76–94.

Brindha, P. G., M. Kavinraj, P. Manivasakam, and P. Prasanth, 2021 Brain tumor detection from MRI images using deep learning techniques. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1055: 012115.

Choudhury, C. L., C. Mahanty, R. Kumar, and B. K. Mishra, 2020 Brain tumor detection and classification using convolutional neural network and deep neural network. In 2020 International Conference on Computer Science, Engineering and Applications.

Kaggle, 2025 Brain tumor classification (MRI). [Online], Accessed: Sep. 16, 2025.

Khan, A. H. et al., 2022a Intelligent model for brain tumor identification using deep learning. Applied Computational Intelligence and Soft Computing 2022: 8104054.

Khan, M. S. I. et al., 2022b Accurate brain tumor detection using deep convolutional neural network. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal 20: 4733–4745.

Mahmud, M. I., M. Mamun, and A. Abdelgawad, 2023 A deep analysis of brain tumor detection from MR images using deep learning networks. Algorithms 16: 176.

Maqsood, S., R. Damaševičius, and R. Maskeliūnas, 2022 Multimodal brain tumor detection using deep neural network and multiclass SVM. Medicina 58: 1090.

Ozdemir, B., E. Aslan, and I. Pacal, 2025 Attention enhanced InceptionNeXt-based hybrid deep learning model for lung cancer detection. IEEE Access 13: 27050–27069.

Pacal, I., 2024 A novel Swin Transformer approach utilizing residual multi-layer perceptron for diagnosing brain tumors in MRI images. International Journal of Machine Learning and Cybernetics 15: 3579–3597.

Pacal, I., O. Akhan, R. T. Deveci, and M. Deveci, 2025 NeXtBrain: Combining local and global feature learning for brain tumor classification. Brain Research 1863: 149762.

Saba, T., A. S. Mohamed, M. El-Affendi, J. Amin, and M. Sharif, 2020 Brain tumor detection using fusion of handcrafted and deep learning features. Cognitive Systems Research 59: 221–230.

Saeedi, S., S. Rezayi, H. Keshavarz, and S. R. Niakan Kalhori, 2023 MRI-based brain tumor detection using convolutional deep learning methods and chosen machine learning techniques. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 23: 1–17.

Sevinc, A., M. Ucan, and B. Kaya, 2025 A distillation approach to transformer-based medical image classification with limited data. Diagnostics 15: 929.

Soomro, T. A. et al., 2023 Image segmentation for MR brain tumor detection using machine learning: A review. IEEE Reviews in Biomedical Engineering 16: 70–90.

Yan, H., X. Wang, G. Zhao, L. Ren, and T. Yu, 2025 Brain stimulation for the treatment of epilepsy: Current application and outlook of network neuromodulation. Brain Network Disorders 1: 7–14.

Yu, L., H. Wang, X. Tang, and K. Yan, 2025 Research progress in predictive techniques for early neurological deterioration in acute ischemic stroke. Brain Network Disorders 1: 94–97.

Yue, C., Y. Fu, Y. Zhao, Y. Ou, Y. Sun, et al., 2025 Association between alzheimer’s disease and metabolic syndrome: Unveiling the role of dyslipidemia mechanisms. Brain Network Disorders 1: 21–27.

Özüpak, Y., F. Alpsalaz, and E. Aslan, 2025a Air quality forecasting using machine learning: Comparative analysis and ensemble strategies for enhanced prediction. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 236: 1–17.

Özüpak, Y., F. Alpsalaz, E. Aslan, and H. Uzel, 2025b Hybrid deep learning model for maize leaf disease classification with explainable AI. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science.

Özüpak, Y. and S. Mansurov, 2025 Optimizing electricity demand forecasting with a novel RNN-LSTM hybrid model. Energy Sources, Part B: Economics, Planning, and Policy 20.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.