Mammography de-identification is the removal of all 18 HIPAA Safe Harbor IDs (45 CFR §164.514(b)) from the file. anonym.plus runs it on your device. The BI-RADS finding stays, but the text names no one.
When this applies
A screening case fits an audit dataset. The finding can stay, yet the name, the dates, and the patient ID have to be hidden first.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the file (PDF, image, or scan) on your machine.
- Local OCR reads any text printed on the view.
- The tool flags names, dates, and the ID band.
- Review each flag and keep the BI-RADS category.
- Swap each ID for a token, or box it out.
- Save the clean copy. The source stays on disk.
What you need to provide
- The file (PDF, JPEG, PNG, or image scan).
- An operator: Replace (swap), Redact (remove), or Mask (partial).
- Optional: a name map for recall tracking.
PHI entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | Dawn Mercer → [PATIENT_1] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | Screened 06/02/2026 → [DATE] |
| Record IDs | MEDICAL_RECORD_NUMBER | MRN 620114 → [MRN] |
| Identifiers | ID | Accession M-3318 → [ACCESSION] |
| Age | AGE | Age 52 → [AGE] |
| Site | ORGANIZATION | Rosewood Breast Center → [SITE] |
Compliance achieved
- Strips all 18 ID classes for HIPAA Safe Harbor (45 CFR §164.514(b)).
- Runs offline, so the tool itself needs no BAA.
- Working files are kept safe with AES-256-GCM.
- Handles GDPR Art. 9 health data for EU patients too.
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Limitations & cautions
The corner ID band can hold a name on each view. OCR catches most of it. Verify every view before release, since a missed band undoes the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Will the BI-RADS score be kept?
Yes. The category is a clinical value, not a patient ID. It stays in place so the finding remains useful for an audit.
Does each view get its own check?
Yes. Every view is read on its own. You confirm the corner band on each one, so no single view leaks a name.
Can I link prior and current rounds?
Yes. A name map gives one patient the same token across rounds. Recall tracking works with no real name shown.