The file extension DICOM indicates an image file in the standardized Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine format. DICOM files are used for storing medical images, such as ultrasounds and X-rays and patient data that describes those images. DICOM is one of several file extensions used for the DICOM image format.
Format
- The DICOM image format was created by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, or NEMA, as a standardized format for viewing and sharing medical images. It was designed to store both the image and header information, such as the patient's name and a description of the scan type, in the same file. Another medical image format, Analyze, stores this information in separate ."img," or image, and ".hdr," or header, files. DICOM files can also be compressed, similar to the JPEG image format commonly used on the Internet, to create a smaller file.
Uses
- DICOM files are the most common file types used for medical scans in hospitals. Types of medical scans include ultrasounds, computerized tomography scans and MRIs. DICOM files are specifically designed so medical professionals can adjust the window center and window width, which changes the brightness and contrast of the image and may make parts of the scan easier to see.
Viewing
- If you're a medical professional, you probably have a medical imaging program that can open DICOM files. There are also numerous free DICOM viewers for Windows, such as ezDICOM, MicroDicom and XnView. If you need to edit a DICOM file without medical imaging software, you can open it in the free graphics program GIMP.
Related Files
- DICOM files may use an extension other than DICOM. One common DICOM extension is DCM; this extension is also used for DCM audio files and for the DiskCatalogMaker file organization program. Another DICOM file extension is ".dic," which is more commonly used for dictionary files. Finally, the file extension ACR, which stands for American College of Radiology, may indicate a DICOM file, although it more commonly refers to an Acer eRecovery backup file or an ACRobot script.
