Zero-Watermarking Technique for Medical Image Authentication

In this paper, we present zero-watermarking technique for medical image based on thinning file in order to ensure the authenticity and integrity of the medical images. Medical images, different of other images, require careful attention when hiding watermark information within them because the watermark bits may be affect on the region of interest (ROI) and misdiagnose. Therefore, zero-watermarking technique has been proposed. Watermark embedding process is carried out by apply the thinning algorithm for select the suitable places in which the watermark bits will be embedded in the original medical image to protect the ROI without tamper. Experimental results demonstrate that the distortion due to embedding the watermark is too small to be perceptive. The watermarking technique uses a 512×512×8 bits magnetic resonance grayscale image as a sample.