A computer program learned to sort brain scan pictures by tumor type
Original title: Cloud-Based Artificial Intelligence Classification of Common Intracranial Tumors on Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
This was an early computer test on stored pictures, not a tool doctors use.
The short version
A computer program sorted brain scan pictures well, but only in an early test.
What was studied. Researchers built a computer program to sort MRI brain scan pictures. It used 5,335 pictures from one free, public collection. The program sorted each picture into one of four groups: glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are given a grade from 1 to 4 describing how the tumor is expected to behave. See the glossary, meningioma, pituitary tumor, or no tumor.
What they found. The collection had 1,400 glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are given a grade from 1 to 4 describing how the tumor is expected to behave. See the glossary pictures, 1,292 meningioma pictures, 1,362 pituitary tumor pictures, and 1,281 pictures with no tumor. The program sorted the pictures correctly about 99% to 100% of the time in each group. It did a little less well with meningiomas than with the other groups.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: Reading brain scans can take time and needs an expert. Someday, tools like this might help doctors sort scans faster. This study shows that an easy-to-use online tool can be trained to do this kind of sorting.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean a computer can read your scan today. The program was only tested on pictures from one collection. It was not checked on scans from other hospitals. The researchers could not be sure the same person's scans were kept out of the test. They say much more testing is needed before doctors could use it. This is not a treatment and not a cure.
Source: PubMed, August 17, 2026 · Read the original
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