Free DICOM image viewing and processing software for your desktop computer: what's available and what it can do for you. 2003

Edward J Escott, and David Rubinstein
Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Campus Box A034, 4200 E Ninth Ave, Denver, CO 80262, USA. edward.escott@uchsc.edu

Whether or not a radiology department is "filmless," there is often a need to store images digitally for teaching or presentation purposes. Most computed tomographic and magnetic resonance images are in the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) 3 format, which has many advantages; however, these files can be very large and rapidly consume storage space. Converting DICOM files to smaller file formats such as the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format can save space and allow insertion of images into presentations created with software such as Microsoft PowerPoint. Some picture archiving and communication systems can convert images from DICOM to other formats; however, many free options are also available. The World Wide Web was searched for free DICOM image viewing or processing software, and programs that were thought to be user-friendly and compatible with the Microsoft Windows operating systems were evaluated. There are many free programs that enable manipulation and processing of DICOM images on a desktop computer, allowing the user to easily window images and convert them to a smaller and more usable format, such as JPEG.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007091 Image Processing, Computer-Assisted A technique of inputting two-dimensional or three-dimensional images into a computer and then enhancing or analyzing the imagery into a form that is more useful to the human observer. Biomedical Image Processing,Computer-Assisted Image Processing,Digital Image Processing,Image Analysis, Computer-Assisted,Image Reconstruction,Medical Image Processing,Analysis, Computer-Assisted Image,Computer-Assisted Image Analysis,Computer Assisted Image Analysis,Computer Assisted Image Processing,Computer-Assisted Image Analyses,Image Analyses, Computer-Assisted,Image Analysis, Computer Assisted,Image Processing, Biomedical,Image Processing, Computer Assisted,Image Processing, Digital,Image Processing, Medical,Image Processings, Medical,Image Reconstructions,Medical Image Processings,Processing, Biomedical Image,Processing, Digital Image,Processing, Medical Image,Processings, Digital Image,Processings, Medical Image,Reconstruction, Image,Reconstructions, Image
D008838 Microcomputers Small computers using LSI (large-scale integration) microprocessor chips as the CPU (central processing unit) and semiconductor memories for compact, inexpensive storage of program instructions and data. They are smaller and less expensive than minicomputers and are usually built into a dedicated system where they are optimized for a particular application. "Microprocessor" may refer to just the CPU or the entire microcomputer. Computers, Personal,Microprocessors,Computer, Personal,Microcomputer,Microprocessor,Personal Computer,Personal Computers
D011873 Radiology Information Systems Information systems, usually computer-assisted, designed to store, manipulate, and retrieve information for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling administrative activities associated with the provision and utilization of radiology services and facilities. PACS (Radiology),Picture Archiving And Communication System,Picture Archiving and Communication Systems,Picture Archiving, Radiologic,X-Ray Information Systems,Archiving, Radiologic Picture,Information System, Radiologic,Information System, Radiology,Information Systems, Radiologic,Information Systems, Radiology,Radiologic Information System,Radiologic Information Systems,Radiologic Picture Archiving,Radiology Information System,System, Radiologic Information,System, Radiology Information,Systems, Radiologic Information,Systems, Radiology Information,Xray Information Systems,Information System, X-Ray,Information System, Xray,Information Systems, X-Ray,Information Systems, Xray,PACSs (Radiology),System, X-Ray Information,System, Xray Information,Systems, X-Ray Information,Systems, Xray Information,X Ray Information Systems,X-Ray Information System,Xray Information System
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012984 Software Sequential operating programs and data which instruct the functioning of a digital computer. Computer Programs,Computer Software,Open Source Software,Software Engineering,Software Tools,Computer Applications Software,Computer Programs and Programming,Computer Software Applications,Application, Computer Software,Applications Software, Computer,Applications Softwares, Computer,Applications, Computer Software,Computer Applications Softwares,Computer Program,Computer Software Application,Engineering, Software,Open Source Softwares,Program, Computer,Programs, Computer,Software Application, Computer,Software Applications, Computer,Software Tool,Software, Computer,Software, Computer Applications,Software, Open Source,Softwares, Computer Applications,Softwares, Open Source,Source Software, Open,Source Softwares, Open,Tool, Software,Tools, Software
D016247 Information Storage and Retrieval Organized activities related to the storage, location, search, and retrieval of information. Information Retrieval,Data Files,Data Linkage,Data Retrieval,Data Storage,Data Storage and Retrieval,Information Extraction,Information Storage,Machine-Readable Data Files,Data File,Data File, Machine-Readable,Data Files, Machine-Readable,Extraction, Information,Files, Machine-Readable Data,Information Extractions,Machine Readable Data Files,Machine-Readable Data File,Retrieval, Data,Storage, Data

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