A comprehensive survey on steganography of medical images

Adifa Widyadhani Chanda D’Layla; Tohari Ahmad; Royyana Muslim Ijtihadie; Ntivuguruzwa Jean De La Croix

doi:10.1016/j.cosrev.2026.100973

A comprehensive survey on steganography of medical images

Adifa Widyadhani Chanda D’Layla
, Tohari Ahmad^*
, Royyana Muslim Ijtihadie
, Ntivuguruzwa Jean De La Croix

^*Corresponding author for this work

Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember
University of Rwanda
SecureAI Laboratories
University of Lay Adventist of Kigali (UNILAK)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Medical image steganography has gained increasing attention as a secure data-hiding approach for protecting sensitive healthcare information during medical image storage and transmission. By leveraging diagnostic images as carriers, steganographic techniques aim to ensure confidentiality while preserving image fidelity and clinical usability. This systematic review presents a comprehensive taxonomy of medical image steganography methods, analyses emerging research trends, and examines key elements influencing performance, including imperceptibility, robustness, payload capacity, and security. Furthermore, the review highlights current challenges and identifies open research directions to support the development of reliable and clinically compliant steganographic solutions.

Original language	English
Article number	100973
Journal	Computer Science Review
Volume	61
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosrev.2026.100973
Publication status	Published - Aug 2026

Keywords

Cybersecurity
Data hiding
Healthcare
ICT infrastructure
Image steganography
Information security
National security
Systematic literature review

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10.1016/j.cosrev.2026.100973

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title = "A comprehensive survey on steganography of medical images",

abstract = "Medical image steganography has gained increasing attention as a secure data-hiding approach for protecting sensitive healthcare information during medical image storage and transmission. By leveraging diagnostic images as carriers, steganographic techniques aim to ensure confidentiality while preserving image fidelity and clinical usability. This systematic review presents a comprehensive taxonomy of medical image steganography methods, analyses emerging research trends, and examines key elements influencing performance, including imperceptibility, robustness, payload capacity, and security. Furthermore, the review highlights current challenges and identifies open research directions to support the development of reliable and clinically compliant steganographic solutions.",

keywords = "Cybersecurity, Data hiding, Healthcare, ICT infrastructure, Image steganography, Information security, National security, Systematic literature review",

author = "D{\textquoteright}Layla, \{Adifa Widyadhani Chanda\} and Tohari Ahmad and Ijtihadie, \{Royyana Muslim\} and \{De La Croix\}, \{Ntivuguruzwa Jean\}",

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year = "2026",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.cosrev.2026.100973",

language = "English",

volume = "61",

journal = "Computer Science Review",

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AU - D’Layla, Adifa Widyadhani Chanda

AU - Ahmad, Tohari

AU - Ijtihadie, Royyana Muslim

AU - De La Croix, Ntivuguruzwa Jean

PY - 2026/8

Y1 - 2026/8

N2 - Medical image steganography has gained increasing attention as a secure data-hiding approach for protecting sensitive healthcare information during medical image storage and transmission. By leveraging diagnostic images as carriers, steganographic techniques aim to ensure confidentiality while preserving image fidelity and clinical usability. This systematic review presents a comprehensive taxonomy of medical image steganography methods, analyses emerging research trends, and examines key elements influencing performance, including imperceptibility, robustness, payload capacity, and security. Furthermore, the review highlights current challenges and identifies open research directions to support the development of reliable and clinically compliant steganographic solutions.

AB - Medical image steganography has gained increasing attention as a secure data-hiding approach for protecting sensitive healthcare information during medical image storage and transmission. By leveraging diagnostic images as carriers, steganographic techniques aim to ensure confidentiality while preserving image fidelity and clinical usability. This systematic review presents a comprehensive taxonomy of medical image steganography methods, analyses emerging research trends, and examines key elements influencing performance, including imperceptibility, robustness, payload capacity, and security. Furthermore, the review highlights current challenges and identifies open research directions to support the development of reliable and clinically compliant steganographic solutions.

KW - Cybersecurity

KW - Data hiding

KW - Healthcare

KW - ICT infrastructure

KW - Image steganography

KW - Information security

KW - National security

KW - Systematic literature review

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105035258163

U2 - 10.1016/j.cosrev.2026.100973

DO - 10.1016/j.cosrev.2026.100973

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:105035258163

SN - 1574-0137

VL - 61

JO - Computer Science Review

JF - Computer Science Review

M1 - 100973

ER -

A comprehensive survey on steganography of medical images

Abstract

Keywords

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