Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM)The DICOM StandardThis Standard, now designated Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) Version 3.0, embodies a number of major enhancements to previous versions of the Standard: a. It is applicable to a networked environment. The previous versions were applicable in a point-to-point environment only; for operation in a networked environment a Network Interface Unit (NIU) was required. DICOM Version 3.0 supports operation in a networked environment using industry standard networking protocols such as OSI and TCP/IP. b. It specifies how devices claiming conformance to the Standard react to commands and data being exchanged. Previous versions were confined to the transfer of data, but DICOM Version 3.0 specifies, through the concept of Service Classes, the semantics of commands and associated data. c. It specifies levels of conformance. Previous versions specified a minimum level of conformance. DICOM Version 3.0 explicitly describes how an implementor must structure a Conformance Statement to select specific options. d. It is structured as a multi-part document. This facilitates evolution of the Standard in a rapidly evolving environment by simplifying the addition of new features. ISO directives which define how to structure multi-part documents have been followed in the construction of the DICOM Standard. e. It introduces explicit Information Objects not only for images and graphics but also for studies, reports, etc. f. It specifies an established technique for uniquely identifying any Information Object. This facilitates unambiguous definitions of relationships between Information Objects as they are acted upon across the network.
embodies a number of major enhancements to previous versions of the Standard:
a. It is applicable to a networked environment. The previous versions were applicable in a
point-to-point environment only; for operation in a networked environment a Network Interface
Unit (NIU) was required. DICOM Version 3.0 supports operation in a networked environment
using industry standard networking protocols such as OSI and TCP/IP.
b. It specifies how devices claiming conformance to the Standard react to commands and data
being exchanged. Previous versions were confined to the transfer of data, but DICOM Version
3.0 specifies, through the concept of Service Classes, the semantics of commands and
associated data.
c. It specifies levels of conformance. Previous versions specified a minimum level of
conformance. DICOM Version 3.0 explicitly describes how an implementor must structure a
Conformance Statement to select specific options.
d. It is structured as a multi-part document. This facilitates evolution of the Standard in a rapidly
evolving environment by simplifying the addition of new features. ISO directives which define
how to structure multi-part documents have been followed in the construction of the DICOM
Standard.
e. It introduces explicit Information Objects not only for images and graphics but also for studies,
reports, etc.
f. It specifies an established technique for uniquely identifying any Information Object. This
facilitates unambiguous definitions of relationships between Information Objects as they are acted upon across the network.