A Secure Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) Encryption

The rapid proliferation of healthcare Internet of Things (IoT) systems has intensified the need for robust encryption mechanisms capable of securing sensitive medical data, particularly Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) images. This research introduces a novel Modified Encryption Algorithm designed to enhance data confidentiality, integrity, and resilience against cyber threats within resource-constrained IoT environments. Through extensive simulation evaluations, the proposed algorithm demonstrates superior performance compared to widely used lightweight encryption schemes such as PRESENT, SIMON, and LEA. The algorithm achieves a remarkably high entropy value of 15.469, indicating strong randomness and resistance to statistical attacks. Additionally, the low correlation coefficients—vertical (0.0182), horizontal (–0.0132), and diagonal (0.0625) which confirm effective pixel decorrelation and robust cipher strength. The research obtained Unified Average Changing Intensity (UACI) value of 33.362 further validates the algorithm’s capability to withstand differential attacks, while a Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) score of 0.175 confirms that essential image characteristics remain intact, ensuring acceptable visual quality where required for clinical interpretation.