AUTHOR=Priyadharshini M. , Murugesh V. , Mahesh T. R. , Albalawi Eid , Saidani Oumaima , Algarni Ali 

TITLE=QBrainNet: harnessing enhanced quantum intelligence for advanced brain stroke prediction from medical imaging

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1677234

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2025.1677234

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=IntroductionBrain stroke is still one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in the world. Early and correct diagnosis is therefore important for patient outcome. Although Convolution Neural Network (CNN), classical machine learning models, have achieved great progress in medical image classification, they have to face the performance saturation problem when dealing with high-dimensional and complex data such as medical images. To tackle these limitations, we propose QBrainNet, a quantum enhanced model, which is to enhance brain stroke prediction from medical imaging datasets.MethodsThe model consists of Quantum Neural Networks (QNNs) applied as learning complex patterns in terms of medical images and Variational Quantum Circuits (VQCs) that will be used to optimize the classification. The feature extraction featured in the QNNs utilises quantum properties of superposition and entanglement to extract non-linear high-dimensional patterns in images related to stroke that may not be captured using classical limits. The VQCs, in turn, are applied to optimize the model performance, further allocating the boundaries of the decision and enhancing the model performance in terms of accuracy by optimizing the quantum gates and operators used during the work. QBrainNet utilizes the combination of such quantum properties as entanglement and superposition to represent more complicated non-linear patterns in stroke-specific images in a better manner than a classical application does.ResultsThis paper proposes a hybrid classical-quantum scheme: preprocessing classically, and learning quantum-enhanced. Quantum gates and operators are used when performing the quantum phase to optimize decision boundaries, achieving vastly enhanced prediction accuracy and efficiency performance. Experimental results indicate that QBrainNet has a better accuracy (96%) and AUC-PR (0.97) than the classical models like CNN, SVM, and Random Forest, proving the superior performance of QBrainNet in stroke detection.DiscussionThe inference time is shorter, so the model can be used as a real-time clinical application. This article points to the possibilities quantum computing can have in revolutionizing medical diagnostics, especially stroke prediction.