Transmission of radiology images over an Unsecure Network Using Hybrid Encryption Schemes

Abstract

In this paper., we propose a hybrid encryption scheme to transmit the medical image dataset securely in radiology networks. The proposed methodology uses the RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) encryption technique., XOR technique, and the digitally reconstructed Radiograph (DRR) image from the 3D volume of MRI scan images. As a first step, the volume of interest (VOI) was segmented and then computed the DRR image on the segmented volume in the sagittal direction. The pixels of the DRR image was XORed with all the image slices. All the images and the DRR image were encrypted separately using the RSA technique and transmitted. At the receiver, the XOR was applied to all the received images, the original slices were retained, VOI was segmented again, and the DRR was recomputed. Now, the received DRR and the recomputed DRR were compared for the changes in the image content through histogram comparison, MSE, and Mean absolute deviation. The data integrity violation was tested by adding an image, deleting an image, and modifying the pixels of the image before sending it. The method was applied to fifty (n=50) samples. In all the above test cases performed, the method identified the data integrity violation correctly.