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Learn DICOM
Narrative explainers for the DICOM standard — how it works, what the pieces are called, and where the common gotchas hide. When you need to look up a tag, module, CIOD, SOP Class, transfer syntax, or VR, head to the spec browser. When you need to understand a concept, this is the section.
Browse by topic
- Start here
What is DICOM?
The universal standard for medical imaging — definition, why it exists, how it fits alongside PACS and EHRs.
- File format
DICOM File Format
Preamble, meta-information header, data set encoding, transfer syntaxes, and how pixel data differs from JPEG.
- Network
DICOM Protocol
TCP/IP + DUL + DIMSE layers, A-ASSOCIATE negotiation, and why port 104 is really port 11112 in practice.
- Network
Service Classes
Storage (C-STORE), Query/Retrieve (C-FIND, C-MOVE, C-GET), Verification (C-ECHO), MPPS, Storage Commitment.
- Network
Query / Retrieve
C-FIND search criteria, C-MOVE vs C-GET, destination AE Title quirks, and why your firewall keeps breaking C-MOVE.
- Reference
Modalities
CT, MR, US, XA, MG, NM, PT — the full alphabet of DICOM modality codes, with links into the spec browser for each.
- Infrastructure
PACS & VNA Explained
Archive servers, workstations, acquisition gateways, VNAs, cloud PACS — what each does and how they interconnect.
- Compliance
DICOM Security & HIPAA
TLS profiles, audit trail format, attribute-level confidentiality, Supplement 142 de-identification, and the common misconfigurations.
- Integration
Conformance Statements
The single most important document in any DICOM integration — what to look for and what vendors leave out.
- Reference
DICOM Standard Parts
PS3.1 through PS3.20 — a short tour of the 20-part standard and which parts you actually need to read.
Looking for quick answers?
The DICOM FAQ covers the 20+ most-asked questions about files, PACS, security, troubleshooting, and how CIODs / SOP Classes / VRs fit together. Good first stop if you're new to the standard.