Deep CNNs for glioma grading on conventional MRIs: Performance analysis, challenges, and future directions

The increasing global incidence of glioma tumors has raised significant healthcare concerns due to their high mortality rates. Traditionally, tumor diagnosis relies on visual analysis of medical imaging and invasive biopsies for precise grading. As an alternative, computer-assisted methods, particularly deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs), have gained traction. This research paper explores the recent advancements in DCNNs for glioma grading using brain magnetic resonance images (MRIs) from 2015 to 2023. The study evaluated various DCNN architectures and their performance, revealing remarkable results with models such as hybrid and ensemble based DCNNs achieving accuracy levels of up to 98.91%. However, challenges persisted in the form of limited datasets, lack of external validation, and variations in grading formulations across diverse literature sources. Addressing these challenges through expanding datasets, conducting external validation, and standardizing grading formulations can enhance the performance and reliability of DCNNs in glioma grading, thereby advancing brain tumor classification and extending its applications to other neurological disorders.