A Framework for Secure Sharing of Medical Images Based on Visual Cryptography

In the domain of medical data security, the confiden- tiality and integrity of diagnostic exam results is crucial. However, the use of DICOM files, the standard format for storing and sharing medical images like X-rays and MRIs, can pose security risks because they are not subject to encryption requirements. As a result, these files rely heavily on the security measures implemented within the healthcare institution’s networks and databases, which are often inadequate in preventing unauthorized access, data tampering, or malicious injections. The goal of this paper is to propose a secure method for sharing and storing diagnostic exam results, ensuring the confidentiality of the information while safeguarding patient privacy. The proposed solution operates directly on DICOM files, utilizing steganography and visual secret sharing to protect and maintain the security of both metadata and pixel data.