Improving Brain Tumor Classification: An Approach Integrating Pre-Trained CNN Models and Machine Learning Algorithms

Accurate detection of brain tumors is crucial for enhancing patient outcomes, yet the interpretation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans poses significant challenges. This study introduces a novel approach to brain tumor classification by exploring three pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) models: DenseNet201, EfficientNetB5, and InceptionResNetV2, combined with softmax activation for feature extraction. These features are then subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for dimensionality reduction. Subsequently, three machine learning models—Support Vector Machine (SVM), Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP), and Gaussian Naive Bayes (GNB)—are employed for classification. The results reveal that DenseNet201, when combined with SVM and MLP, outperforms the other models in terms of accuracy, recall, and precision. Specifically, DenseNet201 achieves 100% accuracy, recall, and precision on Dataset-I and 98% accuracy, recall, and precision on Dataset-II when paired with SVM and MLP. This study provides valuable insights into the interplay between CNN models, feature extraction techniques, and machine learning algorithms for brain tumor classification, highlighting the efficacy of DenseNet201 combined with SVM and MLP.