The authors caution that cybersecurity risks associated with LLMs must be carefully assessed before their deployment in health care, particularly in radiology, and radiologists should enact protective measures when dealing with LLMs.
"Radiologists can take several measures to protect themselves from cyberattacks," Dr. D'Antonoli said. "There are of course well-known strategies, like using strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and making sure all software is kept up to date with security patches. But because we are dealing with sensitive patient data, the stakes (as well as security requirements) are higher in health care."
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To safely integrate LLMs into healthcare, institutions must ensure secure deployment environments, strong encryption and continuous monitoring of model interactions. By implementing robust security measures and adhering to best practices during the development, training and deployment stages, stakeholders can help minimize risk and protect patient privacy.
Dr. D'Antonoli notes that it is also important to use only the tools that have been vetted and approved by an institution's IT department, and any sensitive information used as input for these tools should be anonymized.
"Moreover, ongoing training about cybersecurity is important," she said. "Just like we undergo regular radiation protection training in radiology, hospitals should implement routine cybersecurity training to keep everyone informed and prepared."
According to Dr. D'Antonoli, patients should be aware of the risks but not overly worried.
"The landscape is changing, and the potential for vulnerability might grow when LLMs are integrated into hospital systems," she said. "That said, we are not standing still. There is increasing awareness, stronger regulations and active investment in cybersecurity infrastructure. So, while patients should stay informed, they can also be reassured that these risks are being taken seriously, and steps are being taken to protect their data."
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