#Download anonymizer universal setup software#

#Download anonymizer universal setup software#

The use of fully automated software may cause less awareness of fields being anonymised.

However, anonymisation often is not done properly. There are numerous tools for anonymising DICOM data, both commercially and open source, which employ various approaches to removing patient-related information in a more or less automated way. Confidential entries include tags in the standard DICOM Data Dictionary that could in itself or in combination with other entries be used to derive the patient’s real identity. This method is used to remove confidential entries from DICOM files and is generally irreversible. This anonymity can contain coded information that could be used to identify people by using external information that is not generally known.ĭata anonymisation is the simplest but most secure approach to providing privacy and integrity of DICOM data. The UK Medical Research Council (MRC) described anonymised data as data prepared from personal information, but from which the person cannot be identified by the recipient of the information. stated that it is desirable and good clinical practice that patient data are rendered “anonymous” before transferral. However, sharing sensitive medical image data to a third party demands protection of the data itself to ensure data safety and patient privacy.

The DICOM format is now used by most of the medical imaging community, not only for clinical practice but also for clinical research raising the possibility of data sharing or exchange. The DICOM header saves identifying information of patients and images which may include patient information, study information, institution information, etc.

A DICOM image consists of a DICOM header and the viewable image. It is currently the global standard for handling, storing, printing and transmitting information in medical imaging. Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) was developed to standardise medical image data and to easily share medical image data between computer systems.