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.dcm

DICOM Medical Imaging Data

Images

DCM is used for DICOM data, which can include study/series/patient metadata, single or multiframe images and non-image objects. Check the complete study and compatible viewer rather than treating every file as one ordinary picture.

Main use
Store medical images with study/image metadata
Data type
Binary data
All sections, questions and sources

Content reviewed： · Editor：Kai

Opening steps

Choose your environment or purpose to see its steps.

DICOM viewer / pydicom

Preserve the original and inspect a working copy in a compatible application.

  1. Open a copy or complete study in the provider’s recommended DICOM viewer.
  2. Inspect study, series, image count and the required object.
  3. Check selected slices/window settings while preserving originals.
Inspect the received file and its requirements

Establish dependencies and settings before proceeding.

  1. Inventory study folders and accompanying DICOMDIR when supplied.
  2. Check transfer syntax and viewer codec support.
  3. Establish sharing scope and handling of patient information.

Menu labels and support vary by app, OS and version. Preserve the original before making changes.

Troubleshooting by symptom

  • Photo app cannot read it: use a DICOM viewer.
  • Black/white display: inspect window settings and the selected image.
  • Missing images: inspect delivery and ordering of the complete series.
  • Personal data remains after renaming: review tags and burned-in image text.

DCM → viewing images / compatible data export

  1. Export required images through a suitable viewer and review metadata under the sharing conditions.
  2. Check study/series mapping, image count, required information and personal-data handling.

JPEG and similar exports do not equivalently preserve source values, study and calibration information or replace the medical original.

Identifiers exist beyond visible pixels

Renaming is not de-identification. Agreed procedures must consider standard/private tags, accompanying files and burned-in text.

Source for these steps：DICOM Standards Committee / NEMA · DICOM File Format, Part 10 chapter 7 / pydicom project · Dataset basics

Worked example: checks before handoff

Example: use an institution-approved de-identification workflow for research delivery and verify preservation of series structure and required numerical information.

Source for these steps：DICOM Standards Committee / NEMA · DICOM File Format, Part 10 chapter 7 / pydicom project · Dataset basics

Related-format differences

Related-format differences
Format / methodPurpose and preserved information
.dcmStore medical images with study/image metadata
NII / JPEGNII is a research image structure and JPEG a display image, unlike a complete DICOM study.
DCM → viewing images / compatible data exportJPEG and similar exports do not equivalently preserve source values, study and calibration information or replace the medical original.

Handling and security

Patient information can occur in tags and pixels; use approved handling rather than unknown online viewers.

Questions and answers

Does one DCM always mean one picture?

It may be multiframe or a non-image DICOM object.

Can extensionless files be DICOM?

Yes, depending on delivery; identify by source and suitable tooling rather than name alone.

Does renaming de-identify it?

Tags, private information and burned-in text can remain; use the agreed de-identification workflow.

Format facts: name, steward and MIME type
Formal name
DICOM Medical Imaging Data
Steward / specification
DICOM Standards Committee / NEMA
MIME type
application/dicom

Primary and official sources

  • StandardDICOM File Format, Part 10 chapter 7

    DICOM file metadata and datasets.

    DICOM Standards Committee / NEMA · Link checked：
  • Software documentationDataset basics

    Reading DICOM, tags and transfer syntax.

    pydicom project · Link checked：