title: Implementation of an anonymisation tool for clinical trials using a clinical trial processor integrated with an existing trial patient data information system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Postbus 30001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands. k.y.e.aryanto@rad.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Kadek Y E
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Aryanto
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Broekema
authors.forename: Matthijs
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oudkerk
authors.forename: Peter M A
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: van Ooijen
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003219:Confidentiality; D019992:Databases as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D012984:Software