Pathology de-identification is the removal of all 18 HIPAA Safe Harbor IDs (45 CFR §164.514(b)) from the file. anonym.plus runs this on your device. The gross and microscopic notes stay clear, but no one is named.
When this applies
A tumor board wants the case as a teaching example. The diagnosis must stay, yet the name, the dates, and the specimen ID have to be hidden first.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the file (PDF, DOCX, or scan) on your machine.
- Local OCR reads any scanned page so printed text is found.
- The app flags names, dates, IDs, and contact lines.
- Check each flag and protect terms like a tissue type.
- Swap each ID for a token, or remove it outright.
- Save the clean version. The source stays on disk.
What you need to provide
- The file (PDF, DOCX, TXT, or image scan).
- An operator: Replace (swap), Redact (remove), or Mask (partial).
- Optional: a name map for later case linking.
PHI entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | Greta Olsen → [PATIENT_1] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | Collected 11/03/2025 → [DATE] |
| Record IDs | MEDICAL_RECORD_NUMBER | MRN 220784 → [MRN] |
| Specimen | ID | Specimen S26-1184 → [SPECIMEN] |
| Lab | ORGANIZATION | Cedar Path Lab → [LAB] |
| Contact | EMAIL_ADDRESS | g.olsen@mail.test → [EMAIL] |
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 special-category data for EU patients.
Anonymize pathology write-ups offline — see plans & start free →
Limitations & cautions
The tool removes the 18 ID types. It does not judge whether a very rare diagnosis could still single out a patient. You make that call. When in doubt, lean on Expert Determination.
Frequently asked questions
Are specimen and accession numbers treated as IDs?
Yes. Both are unique codes under Safe Harbor. The tool flags them so you can swap or remove each one, since they can trace back to a single case.
Will the microscopic description stay intact?
Yes. Clinical wording is left alone. Only the patient details change, so the cell findings and grade read exactly as the pathologist wrote them.
Can two cases share one stable token?
Yes, with a name map. The same patient gets the same label across files. That lets you group cases without ever exposing the real name.