A Comprehensive Review of Automated Techniques for Brain Stroke Classification

Authors

  • Saba Inam University of Punjab Lahore
  • Zobia Suhail University of Punjab Lahore
  • Saira Bilal Punjab Institute of Neurosciences

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56705/ijaimi.v3i2.326

Keywords:

CT Scan, MRI Scan, Machine Learning Models, Deep Learning Models, Transfer Learning Models, Image Pre-Processing

Abstract

Brain stroke is a critical medical condition caused by a disruption in blood supply to the brain, classified into ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Accurate classification of strokes into normal, ischemic, and hemorrhagic categories is essential for effective treatment planning and improved patient outcomes. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) are the primary imaging modalities used for stroke diagnosis, offering complementary advantages in capturing crucial brain information. This paper reviews state-of-the-art computer-aided techniques, including Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), Transfer Learning (TL), and Hybrid models for stroke classification using MRI and CT images. A systematic analysis of methodologies is conducted based on their characteristics and similarities. From 2020 to 2025, studies were identified from scientific databases such as Google Scholar, Springer, and ScienceDirect, focusing on these advanced techniques for brain stroke classification. This review highlights the contributions of each approach and the integration of MRI and CT imaging in developing accurate and efficient automated diagnostic systems.

References

beer D Algarni, and In` es Hilali-Jaghdam. An

ensemble of deep learning enabled brain stroke classification model in magnetic

resonance images. Journal of Healthcare Engineering, 2022(1):7815434, 2022.

Valery L Feigin, Michael Brainin, Bo Norrving, Sheila Martins, Ralph L Sacco, Werner

Hacke, Marc Fisher, Jeyaraj Pandian, and Patrice Lindsay. World stroke organization

(wso): global stroke fact sheet 2022. International Journal of Stroke, 17(1):18–29, 2022.

Sahar Felehgari, Payam Sariaslani, Sepideh Shamsizadeh, Saba Felehgari, Anahita Ra

jabi, and Hiwa Mohammadi. Multi-classification deep learning approach for diagnosing

stroke type and severity using multimodal magnetic resonance images. Journal of

Medical Signals & Sensors, 15(4):10, 2025.

Jo˜ ao ND Fernandes, Vitor EM Cardoso, Alberto Comesa˜na-Campos, and Alberto

Pinheira. Comprehensive review: Machine and deep learning in brain stroke diagnosis.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 24(13):4355, 2024.

FreePik.

Doctor getting patient ready for ct scan.

https://www.freepik.

com/free-photo/doctor-getting-patient-ready-ct-scan 25053901.htm#query=

ct%20scan&position=0&from view=keyword&track=ais hybrid&uuid=

ee41954d-acc6-4060-aa23-ca2b30d97d0b#position=0&query=ct%20scan,

Accessed: 2024-09-09.

Anjali Gautam and Balasubramanian Raman. Towards effective classification of brain

hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke using cnn. Biomedical Signal Processing and Control,

:102178, 2021.

Santwana S Gudadhe, Anuradha D Thakare, and Diego Oliva. Classification of

intracranial hemorrhage ct images based on texture analysis using ensemble-based

machine learning algorithms: A comparative study. Biomedical Signal Processing and

Control, 84:104832, 2023.

health services.

Patient ready for ct scan.

https://www.hhhs.ca/images/

modern-mri-scanner-patient-inside, 2024. Accessed: 2024-09-09.

Jeremy J Heit, Michael Iv, and Max Wintermark. Imaging of intracranial hemorrhage.

Journal of stroke, 19(1):11, 2017.

Anne Hickey, Lisa Mellon, David Williams, Emer Shelley, and Ronan M Conroy.

Does stroke health promotion increase awareness of appropriate behavioural response?

impact of the face, arm, speech and time (fast) campaign on population knowledge of

stroke risk factors, warning signs and emergency response. European stroke journal,

(2):117–125, 2018.

Md Maruf Hossain, Md Mahfuz Ahmed, Abdullah Al Nomaan Nafi, Md Rakibul

Islam, Md Shahin Ali, Jahurul Haque, Md Sipon Miah, Md Mahbubur Rahman, and

Md Khairul Islam. A novel hybrid vit-lstm model with explainable ai for brain stroke

detection and classification in ct images: A case study of rajshahi region. Computers in

Biology and Medicine, 186:109711, 2025.

K-A Hossmann. Viability thresholds and the penumbra of focal ischemia. Annals of

Neurology: Official Journal of the American Neurological Association and the Child

Neurology Society, 36(4):557–565, 1994.

Shah Hussain, Iqra Mubeen, Niamat Ullah, Syed Shahab Ud Din Shah, Bakhtawar Ab

duljalil Khan, Muhammad Zahoor, Riaz Ullah, Farhat Ali Khan, and Mujeeb A Sultan.

Modern diagnostic imaging technique applications and risk factors in the medical field:

a review. BioMed research international, 2022(1):5164970, 2022.

Mahesh Anil Inamdar, Udupi Raghavendra, Anjan Gudigar, Yashas Chakole, Ajay

Hegde, Girish R Menon, Prabal Barua, Elizabeth Emma Palmer, Kang Hao Cheong,

Wai Yee Chan, et al. A review on computer aided diagnosis of acute brain stroke.

sensors, 21(24):8507, 2021.

Avyukth Inna, S Selva kumar, Ayman Khan, S G Brijesh, Gurrala Naga, and Pragnath

mik. Brain stroke detection and classification system: A hybrid approach using deep

learning techniques. Journal of Information Systems Engineering and Management,

(40s), 2025. Published April 26, 2025.

Rohini B Jadhav, Milind Gayakwad, Shital Pawar, SD Jadhav, Rahul Joshi, Amruta V

Patil, Hiren Dand, and Disha Sushant Wankhede. Analyzing existing algorithms and

identifying gaps in brain stroke detection. Journal of Electrical Systems, 20(2s):409

, 2024.

Jahmunah. Image of ischemic. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333439008

Automatic detection of ischemic stroke using higher order spectra features in

brain MRI images/figures?lo=1, 2024. Accessed: 2024-10-05.

SR Jos´ e-Luis, SP Magdalena, DL Miltiadis, MI Marco-Antonio, and YM Cornelio.

Brain hemorrhage classification in ct scan images using minimalist machine learning,

diagnostics, 11, 1449, 2021.

Pragati Kakkar, Tarun Kakkar, Tufail Patankar, and Sikha Saha. Current approaches and

advances in the imaging of stroke. Disease Models & Mechanisms, 14(12):dmm048785,

Srisabarimani Kaliannan and Arthi Rengaraj. Differentiating the presence of brain

stroke types in mr images using cnn architecture. Current Medical Imaging,

(1):e15734056273238, 2024.

Archana Kalidindi, Prasanna Kompalli, Sairam Bandi, and Sri Anugu. Ct image

classification of human brain using deep learning. 2021.

R Kanchana and R Menaka. Ischemic stroke lesion detection, characterization and

classification in ct images with optimal features selection. Biomedical Engineering

Letters, 10(3):333–344, 2020.

Justin Ker, Lipo Wang, Jai Rao, and Tchoyoson Lim. Deep learning applications in

medical image analysis. Ieee Access, 6:9375–9389, 2017.

Tanzeela Kousar, Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, Sajid Iqbal, Fatima Yousaf, and Muham

mad Sanaullah. Applications of deep learning algorithms in ischemic stroke detection,

segmentation, and classification. Artificial Intelligence Review, 58(5):1–48, 2025.

Chathura D Kulathilake, Jeevani Udupihille, Sachith P Abeysundara, and Atsushi

Senoo. Deep learning-driven multi-class classification of brain strokes using computed

tomography: A step towards enhanced diagnostic precision. European Journal of

Radiology, 187:112109, 2025.

Daniel T Lackland, Edward J Roccella, Anne F Deutsch, Myriam Fornage, Mary G

George, George Howard, Brett MKissela, Steven J Kittner, Judith H Lichtman, Lynda D

Lisabeth, et al. Factors influencing the decline in stroke mortality: a statement from the

american heart association/american stroke association. Stroke, 45(1):315–353, 2014.

Karl-Olof L¨ovblad, Stephen Altrichter, Vitor Mendes Pereira, Maria Vargas, Ana Mar

cos Gonzalez, Sven Haller, and Roman Sztajzel. Imaging of acute stroke: Ct and/or mri.

Journal of Neuroradiology, 42(1):55–64, 2015.

Valeria Mariano, Jorge A Tobon Vasquez, Mario R Casu, and Francesca Vipiana. Brain

stroke classification via machine learning algorithms trained with a linearized scattering

operator. Diagnostics, 13(1):23, 2022.

Swetha Mucha and A Ramesh Babu. Classification of intracranial hemorrhage (ct)

images using cnn-lstm method and image-based glcm features. In MATEC Web of

Conferences, volume 392, page 01075. EDP Sciences, 2024.

Keith W Muir, Alastair Buchan, Rudiger von Kummer, Joachim Rother, and Jean

Claude Baron. Imaging of acute stroke. The Lancet Neurology, 5(9):755–768, 2006.

Oznur Ozaltin, Orhan Coskun, Ozgur Yeniay, and Abdulhamit Subasi. A deep learning

approach for detecting stroke from brain ct images using oznet. Bioengineering,

(12):783, 2022.

Ashish Kumar Padhi, Saksham Garg, Rinku Datta Rakshit, and Dakshina Ranjan

Kisku. An effective pathway of brain stroke detection from ct scan images using local

directional octa pattern. In International Conference on Pattern Recognition, pages

–252. Springer, 2025.

Krishna Reddy Papana and S Nagakishore Bhavanam. Optimized cascade and elman

neural network for ct image-based brain stroke classification. In 2024 International

Conference on Computing and Data Science (ICCDS), pages 1–6. IEEE, 2024.

Charmy H Patel, Devang Undaviya, Harsh Dave, Sheshang Degadwala, and Dhairya

Vyas. Efficientnetb0 for brain stroke classification on computed tomography scan. In

2nd International Conference on Applied Artificial Intelligence and Computing

(ICAAIC), pages 713–718. IEEE, 2023.

E.D. Plankey. Why mri. https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/citation/1990/01000/what

patients need to know about magnetic.6.aspx, 1990. Accessed: 2024-09-09.

Subba Rao Polamuri. Stroke detection in the brain using mri and deep learning models.

Multimedia Tools and Applications, pages 1–18, 2024.

Shikha Prasher, Leema Nelson, and S Gomathi. Brain stroke prediction from computed

tomography images using efficientnet-b0. In 2024 5th International Conference for

Emerging Technology (INCET), pages 1–4. IEEE, 2024.

Corentin Provost, Marc Soudant, Laurence Legrand, Wagih Ben Hassen, Yu Xie,

S´ ebastien Soize, Romain Bourcier, Joseph Benzakoun, Myriam Edjlali, Gr´ egoire

Boulouis, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography before treatment

in acute ischemic stroke: effect on workflow and functional outcome. Stroke, 50(3):659

, 2019.

Radiopaedia Contributors. Haemorrhage on mri, 2025. Accessed: 29-Mar-2025.

Afridi Ibn Rahman, Subhi Bhuiyan, Ziad Hasan Reza, Jasarat Zaheen, and Tasin

Al Nahian Khan. Detection of intracranial hemorrhage on CT scan images using

convolutional neural network. PhD thesis, Brac University, 2021.

Senjuti Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, and Ajay Krishno Sarkar. Prediction of brain stroke

using machine learning algorithms and deep neural network techniques. European

Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 7(1):23–30, 2023.

Rishi Raj, Jimson Mathew, Santhosh Kumar Kannath, and Jeny Rajan. Strokevit

with automl for brain stroke classification. Engineering Applications of Artificial

Intelligence, 119:105772, 2023.

Kartikeya Rajdev, Shubham Lahan, Kate Klein, Craig A Piquette, and Meilinh Thi.

Acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in covid-19: mounting evidence. Cureus, 12(8),

Venkatesan Rajinikanth, Shabnam Mohamed Aslam, and Seifedine Kadry. Deep

learning framework to detect ischemic stroke lesion in brain mri slices of flair/dw/t1

modalities. Symmetry, 13(11):2080, 2021.

B Nageswara Rao, Sudhansu Mohanty, Kamal Sen, U Rajendra Acharya, Kang Hao

Cheong, and Sukanta Sabut. Deep transfer learning for automatic prediction of hem

orrhagic stroke on ct images. Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine,

(1):3560507, 2022.

Parvathala Balakesava Reddy, Srinivas Kolli, and Raswitha Bandi. Brain stroke

detection using k-means interfaced with fuzzy c-means for improved accuracy and

scanning speed. Turkish Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, 32(3).

NM Saad, AR Abdullah, IH Azman, and NSM Noor. A review on image classification

techniques for mri brain stroke lesion. Journal of Advanced Research in Applied

Sciences and Engineering Technology, 40(2):62–73, 2024.

Muhammad Ayub Sabir and Fatima Ashraf. Development of a novel deep convolu

tional neural network model for early detection of brain stroke using ct scan images.

Multimedia Tools and Applications, pages 1–25, 2024.

Muhammad Asim Saleem, Ashir Javeed, Wasan Akarathanawat, Aurauma Chutinet,

Nijasri Charnnarong Suwanwela, Widhyakorn Asdornwised, Surachai Chaitusaney,

Sunchai Deelertpaiboon, Wattanasak Srisiri, Watit Benjapolakul, et al. Innovations in

stroke identification: A machine learning-based diagnostic model using neuroimages.

IEEE Access, 2024.

Serkan Savas¸ and C¸a˘grı Damar. Transfer-learning-based classification of pathological

brain magnetic resonance images. ETRI Journal, 46(2):263–276, 2024.

Manisha Sanjay Sirsat, Eduardo Ferm´ e, and Joana Cˆ amara. Machine learning for brain

stroke: a review. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 29(10):105162, 2020.

Stuart R Stock. Trends in micro-and nano-computed tomography 2012-2014. In

Developments in X-Ray Tomography IX, volume 9212, page 921202. SPIE, 2014.

Asit Subudhi, Pratyusa Dash, Manoranjan Mohapatra, Ru-San Tan, U Rajendra

Acharya, and Sukanta Sabut. Application of machine learning techniques for char

acterization of ischemic stroke with mri images: a review. Diagnostics, 12(10):2535,

Imam Tahyudin, R Rizal Isnanto, Anton Satria Prabuwono, Taqwa Hariguna, Eko

Winarto, Nazwan Nazwan, Ades Tikaningsih, Puji Lestari, and Rofik Abdul Rozak.

High-accuracy stroke detection system using a cbam-resnet18 deep learning model on

brain ct images. Journal of Applied Data Sciences, 6(1):788–799, 2025.

Burak Tasci. Automated ischemic acute infarction detection using pre-trained cnn

models’ deep features. Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, 82:104603, 2023.

Turgut Tatlisumak. Is ct or mri the method of choice for imaging patients with acute

stroke? why should men divide if fate has united?, 2002.

Senthil Kumar Thiyagarajan and Kalpana Murugan. A systematic review on techniques

adapted for segmentation and classification of ischemic stroke lesions from brain mr

images. Wireless Personal Communications, 118(2):1225–1244, 2021.

Michel T Torbey and Anish Bhardwaj. Cerebral blood flow physiology and monitoring.

Critical care neurology and neurosurgery, pages 23–35, 2004.

Sapthak Mohajon Turjya, Raj Singh, Pritam Sarkar, Suchismita Rout, Sujata Swain,

and Anjan Bandyopadhyay. Two step federated learning approach in brain stroke

identification and classification via fine-tuning efficientnetb0 network at edge nodes.

In 2024 IEEE 5th India Council International Subsections Conference (INDISCON),

pages 1–6. IEEE, 2024.

AT Tursynova and BS Omarov. Evaluating an ensemble model for stroke image classi

f

ication: Comparative analysis with individual neural network architectures. Bulletin of

Abai KazNPU. Series of Physical and mathematical sciences, 88(4):179–187, 2024.

Azhar Tursynova, Batyrkhan Omarov, Natalya Tukenova, Indira Salgozha, Onergul

Khaaval, Rinat Ramazanov, and Bagdat Ospanov. Deep learning-enabled brain stroke

classification on computed tomography images. Comput. Mater. Contin, 75(1):1431

, 2023.

Nora Elena Tut. Brain stroke classification using convolutional neural networks.

SK UmaMaheswaran, Faiyaz Ahmad, Ramakrishna Hegde, Ahmed M Alwakeel, and

Syed Rameem Zahra. Enhanced non-contrast computed tomography images for

early acute stroke detection using machine learning approach. Expert Systems with

Applications, 240:122559, 2024.

Paolo Vitali, Filippo Savoldi, Flavia Segati, Luca Melazzini, Moreno Zanardo,

Maria Paola Fedeli, Adrienn Benedek, Giovanni Di Leo, Lorenzo Menicanti, and

Francesco Sardanelli. Mri versus ct in the detection of brain lesions in patients with

infective endocarditis before or after cardiac surgery. Neuroradiology, pages 1–9, 2022.

Dr Mohammad Wasay. Burden of stroke in pakistan. 2014.

Sercan Yalc¸ın and H¨useyin Vural. Brain stroke classification and segmentation using

encoder-decoder based deep convolutional neural networks. computers in biology and

Medicine, 149:105941, 2022.

Erdem Yelken and Murat Ceylan. Stroke classification in brain computed tomography

images using vision transformers and gan-based data augmentation. Fırat ¨Universitesi

M¨uhendislik Bilimleri Dergisi, 37(1):387–400, 2025.

Downloads

Published

2025-07-31