DICOM is a standard for handling, storing, printing, and transmitting medical imaging information. It defines the format for medical images, such as MRI scans, X-rays, and ultrasound, enabling interoperability among different imaging devices and systems.
PACS is a system for the storage, retrieval, distribution, and presentation of medical images. It integrates with DICOM to provide healthcare professionals with convenient access to patient images and related data.
A modality refers to a specific imaging device or technique, such as MRI, CT, X-ray, or ultrasound. DICOM enables communication and standardization across different modalities, ensuring compatibility and interoperability.
The DICOM header contains metadata associated with each medical image, including patient information, acquisition parameters, image orientation, and other relevant data. It provides essential context for interpreting and managing the image.
DICOM supports various compression algorithms to reduce the size of medical images for efficient storage and transmission without significant loss of diagnostic information. Common compression methods include JPEG and lossless compression techniques.
A DICOM workstation is a computer system equipped with software for viewing, processing, and analyzing medical images. It provides healthcare professionals with tools for interpreting and manipulating DICOM images effectively.
DICOM facilitates the exchange of medical images and associated information between different healthcare facilities, systems, and vendors. This interoperability is essential for collaborative patient care, research, and decision-making.
Health Level Seven (HL7) standards are used for the exchange, integration, sharing, and retrieval of electronic health information. Integration between DICOM and HL7 enables seamless communication between imaging systems and healthcare information systems.
DICOM Structured Reporting (SR) enables the standardized encoding and exchange of textual and numerical information within medical imaging studies. It allows for the consistent representation of findings, measurements, and annotations in a structured format.
DICOM includes provisions for ensuring the security and privacy of patient data during transmission, storage, and processing. Encryption, access controls, and other security measures help safeguard sensitive medical information and comply with regulatory requirements such as HIPAA.