INTRODUCTION DICOM home page
HISTORY
With the introduction of computed tomography (CT) followed by other digital diagnostic imaging
modalities in the 1970's, and the increasing use of computers in clinical applications, the American
College of Radiology (ACR) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) recognized
the emerging need for a standard method for transferring images and associated information between
devices manufactured by various vendors. These devices produce a variety of digital image formats.
The American College of Radiology (ACR) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
formed a joint committee in 1983 to develop a standard to:
— Promote communication of digital image information, regardless of device manufacturer
— Facilitate the development and expansion of picture archiving and communication systems
(PACS) that can also interface with other systems of hospital information
— Allow the creation of diagnostic information data bases that can be interrogated by a wide
variety of devices distributed geographically.
ACR-NEMA Standards Publication No. 300-1985, published in 1985 was designated version 1.0. The
Standard was followed by two revisions: No. 1, dated October 1986 and No. 2, dated January 1988.
ACR-NEMA Standards Publication No. 300-1988, published in 1988 was designated version 2.0. It
included version 1.0, the published revisions, and additional revisions. It also included new material to
provide command support for display devices, to introduce a new hierarchy scheme to identify an image,
and to add data elements for increased specificity when describing an image.
These Standards Publications specified a hardware interface, a minimum set of software commands, and
a consistent set of data formats
THE DICOM STANDARD
This Standard, which is currently designated Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM),
embodies a number of major enhancements to previous versions of the ACR-NEMA Standard:
a. It is applicable to a networked environment. The ACR-NEMA Standard was applicable in a
point-to-point environment only; for operation in a networked environment a Network Interface
Unit (NIU) was required. DICOM supports operation in a networked environment using the
industry standard networking protocol TCP/IP.
b. It is applicable to an off-line media environment. The ACR-NEMA Standard did not specify a file
format or choice of physical media or logical filesystem. DICOM supports operation in an offline
media environment using industry standard media such as CD-R and MOD and logical
filesystems such as ISO 9660 and PC File System (FAT16).
c. It specifies how devices claiming conformance to the Standard react to commands and data
being exchanged. The ACR-NEMA Standard was confined to the transfer of data, but DICOM
specifies, through the concept of Service Classes, the semantics of commands and associated
data.
d. It specifies levels of conformance. The ACR-NEMA Standard specified a minimum level of
conformance. DICOM explicitly describes how an implementor must structure a Conformance
Statement to select specific options.
e. 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.
f. It introduces explicit Information Objects not only for images and graphics but also for
waveforms, reports, printing, etc.
g. 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.
CURRENT DIRECTION
The DICOM Standard is an evolving standard and it is maintained in accordance with the Procedures of
the DICOM Standards Committee. Proposals for enhancements are forthcoming from the DICOM
Committee member organizations based on input from users of the Standard. These proposals are
considered for inclusion in future editions of the Standard. A requirement in updating the Standard is to
maintain effective compatibility with previous editions.
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