[Studies on digital watermark embedding intensity against image processing and image deterioration].
In order to apply digital watermarking to medical imaging, it is required to find a trade-off between strength of watermark embedding and deterioration of image quality. In this study, watermarks were embedded in 4 types of modality images to determine the correlation among the watermarking strength, robustness against image processing, and image deterioration due to embedding. The results demonstrated that watermarks which were embedded by the least significant bit insertion method became unable to be detected and recognized on image processing even if the watermarks were embedded with such strength that could cause image deterioration. On the other hand, watermarks embedded by the Discrete Cosine Transform were clearly detected and recognized even after image processing regardless of the embedding strength. The maximum level of embedding strength that will not affect diagnosis differed depending on the type of modality. It is expected that embedding the patient information together with the facility information as watermarks will help maintain the patient information, prevent mix-ups of the images, and identify the test performing facilities. The concurrent use of watermarking less resistant to image processing makes it possible to detect whether any image processing has been performed or not.
Nishio
Masato
M
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Keio University.
Ando
Yutaka
Y
Tsukamoto
Nobuhiro
N
Kawashima
Hironao
H
D006801:Humans; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*