A Hybrid Feature-Based Machine Learning Framework for Automated Brain Tumor Classification
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32350.umt-air.52.02Keywords:
brain tumor classification, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hybrid feature-based model, handcrafted features, support vector machines (SVM), random forest, xgboostAbstract
The classification of brain tumors using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial for early diagnosis and efficient decision-making in clinical practice. However, manual analysis is a time-consuming process that may introduce observer bias. To address these issues, this paper presents a hybrid feature-based machine learning model for automated brain tumor classification, integrating both handcrafted and deep learning features to enhance robustness and accuracy. The suggested method combines Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) to retrieve local texture data and high-level semantic details obtained with the help of the ResNet-50 deep convolutional neural network. The hybrid feature vectors are then classified with various machine learning classifiers, such as Linear, Gaussian, and Quadratic Support Vector Machines (SVMs), Logistic Regression, random forest, and XGBoost. The model has been tested using two publicly available benchmark datasets, viz., the Figshare Brain Tumor MRI dataset and Harvard Brain Tumor MRI dataset of a total of 10,286 MRI images. The experimental findings show that the hybrid framework is best in the Figshare dataset, where Quadratic SVM has the best classification accuracy of 97%, and the other models are 96% and 95% with Gaussian SVM and Logistic Regression, respectively. Random Forest yields optimal accuracy on the more difficult Harvard dataset at 76%, which means that the proposed approach can be generalized to diverse data distributions. A further study is an ablation study, which supports the claim that the combination of handcrafted and deep features is a significant performance metric on classification when compared to the features separately. The findings confirm that the hybrid framework has been developed as a suitable, robust, and universalized framework to classify automated multi-class brain tumors with the help of MRI images.
Downloads
References
[1] F. F. Jiven and R. Rumini, “MRI
classification of brain tumors using
EfficientNetB0 feature extraction and
machine learning methods,” J. Appl.
Inform. Comput., vol. 9, no. 6, pp.
3394–3404, Dec. 2025, doi:
https://doi.org/10.30871/jaic.v9i6.103
63.
[2] M. Rasool, A. Noorwali, H. Ghandorh,
N. A. Ismail, and W. M. S. Yafooz,
“Brain tumor classification using deep
learning: A state-of-the-art review,”
Eng. Technol. Appl. Sci. Res., vol. 14,
no. 5, pp. 16586–16594, Oct. 2024,
doi: https://doi.org/10.48084/
etasr.8298.
[3] K. Kumar, K. Jyoti, and K. Kumar,
“Machine learning for brain tumor
classification: Evaluating feature
extraction and algorithm efficiency,”
Discov. Artif. Intell., vol. 4, no. 1,
2024, Art. no. 112, doi:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s44163-024-
00214-4.
[4] H. Kibriya, R. Amin, A. H. Alshehri,
M. Masood, S. S. Alshamrani, and A.
Alshehri, “A novel and effective brain
Naveed and Sadia
39
Department of Information System
Volume 5 Issue 2, Fall 2025
tumor classification model using deep
feature fusion and machine learning
classifiers,” Comput. Intell. Neurosci.,
vol. 2022, Mar. 2022, Art. no.
7897669, doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/
2022/7897669.
[5] M. M. Ahmed et al., “Brain tumor
detection and classification in MRI
using hybrid ViT and GRU model with
explainable AI in southern
Bangladesh,” Sci. Rep., vol. 14, no. 1,
Oct. 2024, Art. no. 22797, doi:
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-
71893-3.
[6] P. Parkhi et al., “Employing CNN
features for automated brain tumor
classification in MRI,” Int. J. Intell.
Syst. Appl. Eng., vol. 12, no. 11, pp.
380–386, 2024.
[7] M. S. Ullah et al., “Brain tumor
classification from MRI scans: A
framework of hybrid deep learning
model with Bayesian optimization and
quantum theory-based marine predator
algorithm,” Front. Oncol., vol. 14,
2024, Art. no. 1335740, doi:
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2024.133
5740.
[8] M. Ghorbian, S. Ghorbian, and M.
Ghobaei-Arani, “A comprehensive
review on machine learning in brain
tumor classification: Taxonomy,
challenges, and future trends,”
Biomed. Signal Process. Control, vol.
98, 2024, Art. no. 106774, doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bspc.2024.10
6774.
[9] S. E. Nassar et al., “A robust MRI-
based brain tumor classification via a
hybrid deep learning technique,” J.
Supercomput., vol. 80, no. 2, pp. 2403–
2427, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/
10.1007/s11227-023-05549-w.
[10]Q. U. A. Ishfaq et al., “Automatic
smart brain tumor classification and
prediction system using deep
learning,” Sci. Rep., vol. 15, no. 1,
2025, Art. no. 14876, doi:
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-
95803-3.
[11]B. Pattanaik et al., “Brain tumor
magnetic resonance images
classification based machine learning
paradigms,” Contemp. Oncol., vol. 26,
no. 4, pp. 268–274, 2022, doi:
https://doi.org/10.5114/wo.2023.1246
12.
[12]J. Kang, Z. Ullah, and J. Gwak, “MRI-
based brain tumor classification using
ensemble of deep features and machine
learning classifiers,” Sensors, vol. 21,
no. 6, Mar. 2021, Art. no. 2222, doi:
https://doi.org/10.3390/s21062222.
[13]R. Missaoui et al., “Advanced deep
learning and machine learning
techniques for MRI brain tumor
analysis: A review,” Sensors, vol. 25,
no. 9, 2025, Art. no. 2746, doi:
https://doi.org/10.3390/s25092746.
[14]M. S. Chowdhury et al., “Squeezed-
Eff-Net: Edge-computed boost of
tomography-based brain tumor
classification leveraging hybrid neural
network architecture,” arXiv, 2025.
[Online]. Available: https://arxiv.
org/abs/2512.07241.
[15]S. C. Gupta, S. Vijayvargiya, and V.
Bhattacharjee, “Role of feature
diversity in the performance of hybrid
models—An investigation of brain
tumor classification from brain MRI
scans,” Diagnostics, vol. 15, no. 15,
2025, Art. no. 1863, doi:
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics151
51863.
[16]M. A. Khan and R. B. Z. Auvee,
Hybrid Feature-based Machine Learning...
40 UMT Artificial Intelligence Review
Volume 5 Issue 2, Fall 2025
“Comparative analysis of resource-
efficient CNN architectures for brain
tumor classification,” in Proc. 27th Int.
Conf. Comput. Inf. Technol. (ICCIT),
Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dec. 2024.
[17]N. Netshamutshedzi et al., “A
systematic review of the hybrid
machine learning models for brain
tumour segmentation and detection in
medical images,” Front. Artif. Intell.,
vol. 8, 2025, Art. no. 1615550, doi:
https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2025.1615
550.
[18]M. Nahiduzzaman et al., “A hybrid
explainable model based on advanced
machine learning and deep learning
models for classifying brain tumors
using MRI images,” Sci. Rep., vol. 15,
no. 1, 2025, Art. no. 1649, doi:
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-
85874-7.
[19]A. K. Sharma et al., “Brain tumor
classification using the modified
ResNet50 model based on transfer
learning,” Biomed. Signal Process.
Control, vol. 86, 2023, Art. no.
105299, doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bspc.2023.10
5299.
[20]N. A. Zebari et al., “Enhancing brain
tumor classification with data
augmentation and DenseNet121,”
Acad. J. Nawroz Univ., vol. 12, no. 4,
pp. 323–334, 2023, doi:
https://doi.org/10.25007/ajnu.v12n4a1
985.
[21]C. K. K. Reddy et al., “A fine-tuned
vision transformer based enhanced
multi-class brain tumor classification
using MRI scan imagery,” Front.
Oncol., vol. 14, 2024, Art. no.
1400341, doi: https://doi.org/
10.3389/fonc.2024.1400341.
[22]Z. Wang et al., “A hybrid deep learning
scheme for MRI-based preliminary
multiclassification diagnosis of
primary brain tumors,” Front. Oncol.,
vol. 14, 2024, Art. no. 1363756, doi:
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2024.136
3756.
[23]S. Iftikhar et al., “Explainable CNN for
brain tumor detection and
classification through XAI-based key
features identification,” Brain Inform.,
vol. 12, no. 1, 2025, Art. no. 10, doi:
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40708-025-
00253-2.
[24]M. Filvantorkaman et al., “Fusion-
based brain tumor classification using
deep learning and explainable AI, and
rule-based reasoning,” arXiv, 2025.
[Online]. Available:
https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.06891
[25]V. R. Srinivas and R. Parvathi,
“Explainable AI-driven MRI-based
brain tumor classification: A novel
deep learning approach,” Front. Artif.
Intell., vol. 8, 2025, Art. no. 1700214,
doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.
2025.1700214.
[26]M. Ottoni, A. Kasperczuk, and L. M.
Tavora, “Machine learning in MRI
brain imaging: A review of methods,
challenges, and future directions,”
Diagnostics, vol. 15, no. 21, 2025, Art.
no. 2692, doi: https://doi.org/
10.3390/diagnostics15212692.
[27]Y. Wong et al., “Brain tumor
classification using MRI images and
deep learning techniques,” PLoS ONE,
vol. 20, no. 5, May 2025, Art. no.
0322624, doi: https://doi.org/10.
1371/journal.pone.0322624.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Anam Naveed, Mamoona Sadia

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
UMT-AIR follow an open-access publishing policy and full text of all published articles is available free, immediately upon publication of an issue. The journal’s contents are published and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0) license. Thus, the work submitted to the journal implies that it is original, unpublished work of the authors (neither published previously nor accepted/under consideration for publication elsewhere). On acceptance of a manuscript for publication, a corresponding author on the behalf of all co-authors of the manuscript will sign and submit a completed the Copyright and Author Consent Form.

