DICOM

DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) is a standard for storing, transmitting, and exchanging medical images and related information, such as patient demographics and diagnostic data. It was developed to provide a consistent format for storing and exchanging medical images, allowing different medical devices and systems to communicate with each other and share data.

DICOM consists of a set of standards and protocols that define how medical images and related data should be formatted and transmitted, as well as how they should be stored and retrieved. It is used in a wide variety of medical imaging modalities, including X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine, and it is widely adopted by hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities around the world.

DICOM images are typically stored in a special format, called a DICOM file (file.dcm), which includes both the image data and associated metadata, such as patient information, exam details, and image acquisition parameters.

DICOM files can be viewed and analyzed using specialized software, such as DICOM viewer software or medical image analysis software.

DICOM has played a significant role in the development and adoption of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), electronic medical record (EMR) systems and other healthcare IT solutions, as it allows for the efficient and secure storage and exchange of medical images and related data. It has also helped to improve the accuracy and reliability of medical diagnoses, as it allows healthcare providers to easily access and compare images from different modalities and time points.