Full definition
DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) is the international standard for medical imaging. Every modern imaging modality — CT, MRI, X-ray, ultrasound, mammography, nuclear medicine, PET, dental imaging — produces DICOM-format files. Every PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) stores and serves DICOM images. Every imaging viewer reads DICOM. The standard has been the universal default since the 1990s.
DICOM defines three things: a file format (each image plus extensive metadata — patient, study, series, instance hierarchy), a transmission protocol (DICOM-over-TCP/IP, with services like C-STORE, C-FIND, C-MOVE), and a workflow integration spec (DICOM Modality Worklist, Modality Performed Procedure Step, etc.). The richness of the standard is also its complexity — DICOM implementations have many edge cases.
For a clinic platform that integrates with imaging: DICOM is non-negotiable. MOVO-X integrates with PACS via DICOM standard services and can ingest DICOM-coded modality worklist items for clinical workflow integration.
Where dicom (digital imaging and communications in medicine) is used
- CT, MRI, X-ray, ultrasound, mammography, PET imaging
- PACS image storage and serving
- Modality worklist (RIS-driven imaging schedule)
- Diagnostic imaging viewers
- Cardiology and ophthalmology imaging
- Pathology (digital pathology, whole-slide imaging)
- Telemedicine image sharing
Types of dicom (digital imaging and communications in medicine)
DICOM file format
Image plus metadata — patient, study, series, instance hierarchy.
DICOM-over-TCP
Network transmission protocol with services (C-STORE, C-FIND, C-MOVE).
DICOM Modality Worklist (MWL)
RIS-driven worklist that the modality reads.
DICOMweb
RESTful HTTP-based DICOM — modern alternative to TCP-based DICOM.
DICOM SR (Structured Reporting)
Structured imaging reports.
Quantified benefits
- ▸Universal standard — works across every imaging modality vendor
- ▸Rich metadata supports workflow, billing, and clinical context
- ▸Mature ecosystem of tools, libraries, and viewers
- ▸DICOMweb makes modern API integration straightforward
Frequently asked
Does MOVO-X handle DICOM directly?+
MOVO-X integrates with PACS systems via DICOM standard services and ingests DICOM Modality Worklist items. We don't replace PACS — we integrate alongside.
DICOM vs FHIR for images?+
DICOM is the right standard for the imaging data itself (the pixel data plus metadata). FHIR ImagingStudy resources reference DICOM studies for cross-system clinical context. Both, complementarily.
Is DICOMweb the future?+
Modern integrations increasingly use DICOMweb (RESTful HTTP-based DICOM) instead of legacy TCP-based DICOM. Old PACS infrastructure still uses TCP-based; new deployments prefer DICOMweb.
What about DICOM and patient privacy?+
DICOM metadata includes patient identifiers. De-identification (anonymisation) is an important consideration for research / sharing. MOVO-X supports DICOM de-identification for outbound sharing scenarios.
DICOM for non-radiology?+
Cardiology (echo, cath), ophthalmology (OCT, fundus), pathology (whole-slide imaging), endoscopy — all use DICOM. The standard has expanded beyond pure radiology over the past two decades.