Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has commonly been used to detect and diagnose brain disease and monitor treatment as non-invasive imaging technology. MRI produces three-dimensional images that help neurologists to identify anomalies from brain images precisely. However, this is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. The improvement in machine learning and efficient computation provides a computer-aid solution to analyze MRI images and identify the abnormality quickly and accurately. Image segmentation has become a hot and research-oriented area in the medical image analysis community. The computer-aid system for brain abnormalities identification provides the possibility for quickly classifying the disease for early treatment. This article presents a review of the research papers (from 1998 to 2020) on brain tumors segmentation from MRI images. We examined the core segmentation algorithms of each research paper in detail. This article provides readers with a complete overview of the topic and new dimensions of how numerous machine learning and image segmentation approaches are applied to identify brain tumors. By comparing the state-of-the-art and new cutting-edge methods, the deep learning methods are more effective for the segmentation of the tumor from MRI images of the brain.

Neurological and brain-related cancers are one of the main causes of death worldwide. A commonly used tool in diagnosing these conditions is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), yet the manual evaluation of MRI images by medical experts presents difficulties due to time constraints and variability. This research introduces a novel, two-module computerized method aimed at increasing the speed and accuracy of brain tumor detection. The first module, termed the Image Enhancement Technique, utilizes a trio of machine learning and imaging strategies—adaptive Wiener filtering, neural networks, and independent component analysis—to normalize images and combat issues such as noise and varying low region contrast. The second module uses Support Vector Machines to validate the output of the first module and perform tumor segmentation and classification. Applied to various types of brain tumors, including meningiomas and pituitary tumors, our method exhibited significant improvements in contrast and classification efficiency. It achieved an average sensitivity and specificity of 0.991, accuracy of 0.989, and a Dice score (DSC) of 0.981. Furthermore, the processing time of our method, averaging at 0.43 seconds, was markedly lower compared to existing methods. These results underscore the superior performance of our approach over current state-of-the-art methods in terms of sensitivity, specificity, precision, and DSC. Future enhancements will seek to increase the robustness of the tumor classification method by employing a standardized approach across a suite of classifiers.

Cancer associated with the nervous system and brain tumors ranks among the leading causes of death in various countries. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) capture brain images. MRI is pivotal in diagnosing brain tumors and analyzing other brain disorders. Typically, radiologists or experts manually assess MRI images to detect brain tumors and abnormalities in the early stages for appropriate treatment. However, early brain tumor diagnosis is complex, necessitating computerized methods. This research introduces a novel approach for the automated segmentation of brain tumors and a framework for classifying brain tumor regions. The proposed methods comprise several stages: preprocessing, enhancing the coherence of MRI brain images using Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) and diffusion filtering in the first two steps, followed by the segmentation of the region of interest using the Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering technique in the third step. The last step involves classification using the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier. The classifier is applied to different brain tumor types, from meningioma to pituitary tumors, utilizing the CE-MRI database. The proposed method exhibits significantly improved contrast and proves the effectiveness of the classification framework, achieving an average sensitivity of 0.977, specificity of 0.979, accuracy of 0.982, and a Dice score (DSC) of 0.961. Furthermore, this method demonstrates a shorter processing time of 0.42 seconds compared to existing approaches. The performance of this method underscores its significance when compared to state-of-the-art methods in terms of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and DSC. For future enhancements, it is possible to standardize the approach by incorporating a set of classifiers to increase the robustness of the brain classification method.

As surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been used to diagnose several respiratory viruses (e.g., influenza A virus subtypes such as H1N1 and the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2), SERS is gaining popularity as a method for diagnosing viruses at the point-of-care. Although the prior and quick diagnosis of respiratory viruses is critical in the outbreak of infectious disease, ELISA, PCR, and RT-PCR have been used to detect respiratory viruses for pandemic control that are limited for point-of-care testing. SERS provides quantitative data with high specificity and sensitivity in a real-time, label-free, and multiplex manner recognizing molecular fingerprints. Recently, the design of Raman spectroscopy system was simplified from a complicated design to a small and easily accessible form that enables point-of-care testing. We review the optical design (e.g., laser wavelength/power and detectors) of commercialized and customized handheld Raman instruments. As respiratory viruses have prominent risk on the pandemic, we review the applications of handheld Raman devices for detecting respiratory viruses. By instrumentation and commercialization advancements, the advent of the portable SERS device creates a fast, accurate, practical, and cost-effective analytical method for virus detection, and would continue to attract more attention in point-of-care testing.