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Security Protection of DICOM Medical Images Using Dual-Layer Reversible Watermarking with Tamper Detection Capability

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Abstract

Teleradiology applications and universal availability of patient records using web-based technology are rapidly gaining importance. Consequently, digital medical image security has become an important issue when images and their pertinent patient information are transmitted across public networks, such as the Internet. Health mandates such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act require healthcare providers to adhere to security measures in order to protect sensitive patient information. This paper presents a fully reversible, dual-layer watermarking scheme with tamper detection capability for medical images. The scheme utilizes concepts of public-key cryptography and reversible data-hiding technique. The scheme was tested using medical images in DICOM format. The results show that the scheme is able to ensure image authenticity and integrity, and to locate tampered regions in the images.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Chun Kiat Tan, Jason Changwei Ng, Xiaotian Xu & Yong Liang Guan

  2. School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, N1.3 B2-09, 637457, Singapore, Singapore

    Chueh Loo Poh

  3. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    Kenneth Sheah

Authors
  1. Chun Kiat Tan
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  2. Jason Changwei Ng
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  3. Xiaotian Xu
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  4. Chueh Loo Poh
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  5. Yong Liang Guan
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  6. Kenneth Sheah
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chueh Loo Poh.

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Tan, C.K., Ng, J.C., Xu, X. et al. Security Protection of DICOM Medical Images Using Dual-Layer Reversible Watermarking with Tamper Detection Capability. J Digit Imaging 24, 528–540 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-010-9295-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-010-9295-4

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