ArticleNature medicine2022
A digital mask to safeguard patient privacy.
Abstract read
In one paragraph
Article in Nature medicine, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers.
0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
25 citing papers in PubMed.
- LLM research on public biosignals data is needed to protect patients.NPJ digital medicine · 2026Review
- Virtual medicine: medical AI in human health and diseases.Military Medical Research · 2026Review
- A lung CT vision foundation model facilitating disease diagnosis and medical imaging.Nature communications · 2025Article
- ROFI: a deep learning-based ophthalmic sign-preserving and reversible patient face anonymizer.NPJ digital medicine · 2025Article
- Current status and solutions for AI ethics in ophthalmology: a bibliometric analysis.NPJ digital medicine · 2025Article
- Increasing pathogenic germline variant diagnosis rates in precision medicine: current best practices and future opportunities.Human genomics · 2025Review
- Developing an artificial intelligence-based progressive growing GAN for high-quality facial profile generation and evaluation through turing test and aesthetic analysis.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Facial Privacy Protection for Ocular Diagnosis: Development and Validation Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- 3D facial imaging: a novel approach for metabolic abnormalities risk profiling.Science China. Life sciences · 2025Article
- Publishing Identifiable Patient Photographs in the Digital Age: Focus Group Study of Patients, Doctors, and Medical Students.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- CDKD-w+: A Keyframe Recognition Method for Coronary Digital Subtraction Angiography Video Sequence Based on w+ Space Encoding.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Precision medicine in AML: overcoming resistance.International journal of hematology · 2024Review
- A glimpse into the future: Integrating artificial intelligence for precision HER2-positive breast cancer management.iMetaOmics · 2024Review
- A Practical Guide to Manual and Semi-Automated Neurosurgical Brain Lesion Segmentation.NeuroSci · 2024Article
- Global research of artificial intelligence in eyelid diseases: A bibliometric analysis.Heliyon · 2024Article
- Coordinate-wise monotonic transformations enable privacy-preserving age estimation with 3D face point cloud.Science China. Life sciences · 2024Article
- A narrative review of deep learning in thyroid imaging: current progress and future prospects.Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery · 2024Review
- Metaverse Wearables for Immersive Digital Healthcare: A Review.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2023Review
- Concerns about using a digital mask to safeguard patient privacy.Nature medicine · 2023Article
- Reply to: Concerns about using a digital mask to safeguard patient privacy.Nature medicine · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
- Commented on by
- Commented on by
Authors and funding
38 authors.
Yahan Yang *State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Junfeng Lyu *School of Software and BNRist, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Ruixin Wang *State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Quan WenSchool of Software and BNRist, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Lanqin ZhaoState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5182-3678
Wenben ChenState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Shaowei BiState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Jie MengState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Keli MaoState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Yu XiaoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital; Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Yingying LiangDepartment of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital; Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Danqi ZengState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Zijing DuDepartment of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital; Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Yuxuan WuState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Tingxin CuiState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Lixue LiuState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Wai Cheng IaoState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Xiaoyan LiState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Carol Y CheungDepartment of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Jianhua ZhouSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China.
Youjin HuState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7758-8733
Lai WeiState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Iat Fan LaiOphthalmic Center, Kiang Wu Hospital, Macao SAR, Macao, China.
Xinping YuState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Jingchang ChenState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1378-898X
Zhonghao WangState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Zhen MaoState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Huijing YeState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Wei XiaoState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Huasheng YangState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Danping HuangState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Xiaoming LinState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China.
Wei-Shi ZhengSchool of Computer Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Ruixuan WangSchool of Computer Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Patrick Yu-Wai-ManCambridge Center for Brain Repair and MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7847-9320
Feng XuSchool of Software and BNRist, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. feng-xu@tsinghua.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0953-1057
Qionghai DaiBeijing Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Intelligence, Beijing Municipal Education Commission, Beijing, China. qhdai@tsinghua.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7043-3061
Haotian LinState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, China. linht5@mail.sysu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4672-9721
Funding
Department of Health BRC-1215-20014Department of Health NIHR301696Medical Research Council G0701386Medical Research Council G1002570
Abstract
The storage of facial images in medical records poses privacy risks due to the sensitive nature of the personal biometric information that can be extracted from such images. To minimize these risks, we developed a new technology, called the digital mask (DM), which is based on three-dimensional reconstruction and deep-learning algorithms to irreversibly erase identifiable features, while retaining disease-relevant features needed for diagnosis. In a prospective clinical study to evaluate the technology for diagnosis of ocular conditions, we found very high diagnostic consistency between the use of original and reconstructed facial videos (κ ≥ 0.845 for strabismus, ptosis and nystagmus, and κ = 0.801 for thyroid-associated orbitopathy) and comparable diagnostic accuracy (P ≥ 0.131 for all ocular conditions tested) was observed. Identity removal validation using multiple-choice questions showed that compared to image cropping, the DM could much more effectively remove identity attributes from facial images. We further confirmed the ability of the DM to evade recognition systems using artificial intelligence-powered re-identification algorithms. Moreover, use of the DM increased the willingness of patients with ocular conditions to provide their facial images as health information during medical treatment. These results indicate the potential of the DM algorithm to protect the privacy of patients' facial images in an era of rapid adoption of digital health technologies.
Indexed as
Artificial IntelligencePrivacyAlgorithmsConfidentialityFaceHumansProspective Studies
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390
Registered trials
None linked
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.