RSNA 2013 Preview

We are presenting a number of posters and orals from our group at the RSNA 2013 in Chicago later this year. Some of the topics made it to Auntminnie.

Check out the coverage at the AuntMinnie website:

Caution should be used with DICOM data deidentification

and

Before migrating your PACS, do a test run

RSNA 2012 - Ensuring Research Subject Privacy: Anonymization andObscuring of Facial Features of Shared Head Volumes Using Open SourceOnline Tools in XNAT (LL-INE1243)

One of the tricky things about anonymization of image data for scientific research is the fact that although we de-identify the DICOM header and textual content of the images, an additional issue is involved in CT and MR of the head. This issue involves the fact that based on the data acquired a three dimensional visualization of the face can be reconstructed on which the patient could be identified. This work provides a solution to deface MR data in order to tackle this problem.

Ensuring Research Subject Privacy: Anonymization and Obscuring of Facial Features of Shared Head Volumes Using Open Source Online Tools in XNAT
Mikhail Milchenko, PhD , Kevin Archie , Daniel Marcus, PhD
PURPOSE/AIM
1. To understand anonymization requirements for DICOM tags;
2. To understand whether a 3D rendering of head anatomy scan (e.g. MR) can identify a person;
3. To understand the difference between de-identified and original head scans for the identification purposes, and for the purposes of automatic post-processing.
4. To learn to share MR head data using automatic online de-identification tools based on pipelines in XNAT (open source research image sharing database);
CONTENT ORGANIZATION
1. 3D head visualizations based on high resolution MR scan vs. photographs for identification purposes.
2. Obscuring facial features: registering the image into atlas space combined with anatomical surface obscuring
3. Sharing data using the open source research database engine (XNAT) with DICOM anonymization and face obscuring pipeline
4. Comparison of original and face-obscured MR head renderings.
5. Outcomes of post-processing tools (gain field correction, skull stripping, registration) on original and face-obscured MR images
SUMMARY
The exhibit will review the de-identification technique that consists of DICOM anonymization and obscuring of face anatomy. The emphasis will be made on learning the impact of face obscuring algorithm on visual change in a 3D rendering appearance, and of examining the outcomes of post-processing tools used on obscured images.

Publication: Implementation of an anonymisation tool for clinical trials

Since we do a lot of clinical research we are constantly working trying to facilitate the easy transfer of data from one hospital to the other. In this paper we presented the integration of the CTP tool from the RSNA, used for automated anonymization of imaging data, into an existing trial database that did not support imaging. The abstract is provided below along with a link to the open access paper.
 


Implementation of an anonymisation tool for clinical trials using a clinical trial processor integrated with an existing trial patient data information system.
Aryanto KY, Broekema A, Oudkerk M, van Ooijen PM.

Eur Radiol. 2012 Jan;22(1):144-51. Epub 2011 Aug 14. 

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
To present an adapted Clinical Trial Processor (CTP) test set-up for receiving, anonymising and saving Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data using external input from the original database of an existing clinical study information system to guide the anonymisation process.
METHODS:
Two methods are presented for an adapted CTP test set-up. In the first method, images are pushed from the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) using the DICOM protocol through a local network. In the second method, images are transferred through the internet using the HTTPS protocol.
RESULTS:
In total 25,000 images from 50 patients were moved from the PACS, anonymised and stored within roughly 2 h using the first method. In the second method, an average of 10 images per minute were transferred and processed over a residential connection. In both methods, no duplicated images were stored when previous images were retransferred. The anonymised images are stored in appropriate directories.
CONCLUSIONS:
The CTP can transfer and process DICOM images correctly in a very easy set-up providing a fast, secure and stable environment. The adapted CTP allows easy integration into an environment in which patient data are already included in an existing information system.