By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    UV damage to eyes
    Warning Signs of Long-Term UV Damage to Your Eyes
    December 9, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    The Ultimate Healthcare Recruiting and Staffing Guidebook
    March 21, 2022
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    nursing program
    7 Tips to Picking the Best Nursing Program
    February 5, 2018
    Health Care: A Modern-Day Blade Runner?
    December 10, 2014
    Occupational Therapy Assistant | Medical Assistant | Home Health Aide
    In-Demand Healthcare Support Jobs
    April 16, 2016
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: About DICOM: Medical Imaging That’s Used in Radiology
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Health > About DICOM: Medical Imaging That’s Used in Radiology
Health

About DICOM: Medical Imaging That’s Used in Radiology

Radiologists play a very important role in diagnosing medical issues and they use DICOM technology to do so.

Aaron Barriga
Last updated: June 24, 2024 7:48 pm
Aaron Barriga
Share
8 Min Read
medical imaging
DepositPhotos londondeposit
SHARE

If you pay a visit to the radiology department as part of your treatment process it is highly likely that the medical imaging information created will be in DICOM image format. Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) is the recognized international standard that allows medical imaging data to be transmitted and saved in a variety of different formats.

Contents
DICOM image format explainedAdvanced functionality optionsOptions for sharing and exporting DICOM filesWhy DICOM is seen as an essential part of radiology

You can convert DICOM to PDF, for instance, so that radiologists and other medical professionals can liaise with each other and share results with ease.

Things were not always that straightforward before DICOM became the default standard for storing, printing, displaying, and printing medical images. Previously, results were displayed as two-dimensional film scans. These had to be stored inside film jackets, which was very limiting and not very efficient when it came to sharing and delivering medical imaging results with other relevant departments and people.

DICOM has proved to be a game-changer. It is a standard that has proved to be revolutionary and transformational that has fundamentally altered the radiology industry. It can play a huge role in fighting cancer.

More Read

career in public health
Exploring Careers In Public Health: Opportunities For Impact
Journaling Can Improve Mental Health with Balance and Clarity
Your Health, Your Time: Experience the Ease of Online GP Consultations
Navigating Insurance When Dealing with Health Issues Abroad
Has the Pandemic Changed How Healthcare Providers Operate?

Here is a look at what DICOM is all about and how it can be used to improve functionality and efficiency in the world of radiology.

DICOM image format explained

Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) is fully recognized as the standard bearer and go-to solution for radiologists when they want to transmit, store, retrieve, print, or process medical imaging information.

One of the big reasons why it is considered such a useful and versatile imaging resource is the fact that you can source DICOM image files from a plethora of different modalities.

As well as being able to save the file as a DICOM file with a standard “.dcm” extension it is also possible to save the files in a variety of different formats such as JPEG and PDF, for example.

As you might imagine, being able to share medical images in numerous different formats makes it much easier to provide these images to other departments and medical professionals in a file format that suits their requirements.

It is this adaptability that has helped DICOM to become the recognized communication standard with radiology departments across the globe.

It should be noted that DICOM files are not able to be opened on a personal computer without the user having the relevant DICOM viewer software loaded.There are several viewer software options to choose from. Popular options are Enterprise Viewer and InteleViewer. Although proprietary software can be used to view images this can be a disadvantage as the image can only be viewed in the same location as the hardware.

Patient security is also a major consideration when it comes to storing and viewing medical images. A typical DICOM file will contain a header and image data combined into one file. The file tag usually contains patient information for ease of identification, however, this can be removed from the header if there is a confidentiality issue.

You can anonymize the data when using formats such as JPEG or PDF if you are sharing images for research purposes.

Advanced functionality options

One of the big reasons why DICOM has become so universally embraced by radiology departments everywhere is that it offers some very useful advanced data enhancement options.

The latest DICOM viewer software available will open up a world of possibilities that could prove useful to radiologists as they are able to enhance and manipulate the data to a certain extent.

You can improve the quality of the image for ease of use, for instance, and you can even take measurements, or increase or decrease the radiodensity and radiolucent areas of an image if you want.

All of these enhancements improve the diagnostic and overall viewing experience.

Another notable advanced functionality option is Multiplanar Reconstruction (MPR). This is a revolutionary new way of generating 3D visualizations of scans from a multitude of different angles. This option provides the opportunity to gain some highly advantageous insights that could even improve medical outcomes.

The ability to combine multiple imaging techniques with the help of DICOM takes accuracy in medical diagnosis to new levels.

Options for sharing and exporting DICOM files

The ability to share and export DICOM image files is an integral aspect of the clinical workflow process.

It is relevant to bear in mind that DICOM files tend to be large in size as a result of the data they contain. When you are storing the results of a CT scan, for instance, that alone will be in excess of 30MB.

It helps practitioners manage these files when they have the ability to use either lossless compression or lossy technology to reduce the size of the file without compromising on quality.

Modern DICOM viewers are able to accommodate these options and then convert the compressed file into another format, such as PDF or JPEG.

Why DICOM is seen as an essential part of radiology

As the above overview confirms, the DICOM image format is widely considered to be an indispensable aspect of radiology practices and workflow options.

Being able to view, manipulate, and share medical images with consummate ease delivers a number of notable benefits. DICOM is a robust security-minded option for capturing and storing image data, delivering an increased level of safety as well as some notable cost savings benefits in the process.

Patient care can be improved as a result of using DICOM technology. It is an option that helps improve productivity and efficiency in radiology departments. As well as being seen as a vital tool for aiding more accurate diagnosis it is able to enhance operational efficiency. That has to be good for delivering better patient care and keeping costs under control.

There is little doubt that DICOM technology has had a huge impact in shaping the way the radiology industry works both now and in the future. The ability to standardize image formats such as X-rays and CT scans and make them available in a single viewing option has proved to be revolutionary.

Now you know why DICOM is so widely embraced by radiologists.

TAGGED:medical imagingradiology
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Aaron Barriga
Follow:
Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK. Aaron loves collecting coasters from the different bars and restaurants he visits during his travels.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

Nasoenteric Tube
HealthMedicare

How to Assess a Safe Placement of a Nasogastric or Nasoenteric Tube and Its Complications

January 17, 2023
healthy hobbies
Health

The Importance of Hobbies for Our Health

September 15, 2024
Sleep Disorders
Global HealthcareHealth

Using Valerian Root and Melatonin Together for Sleep Disorders

October 13, 2021
Salesforce for Healthcare Industry: Health Cloud Implementation Challenges
Health

Salesforce for Healthcare Industry: Health Cloud Implementation Challenges

February 26, 2024
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?