DICOM Attribute

Common Z Coordinate Value (006A,0010)

Keyword
CommonZCoordinateValue
VR
FD
VM
1-n

Definition

The Z coordinate(s) common to all points in Point Coordinates Data (0066,0016) or Double Point Coordinates Data (0066,0022), in mm in the Slide Coordinate System () associated with the Frame of Reference. More than one Value may be present if the Annotations apply to more than one (but not all) Z planes. Required if Annotation Coordinate Type (006A,0001) is 3D, and all points in Point Coordinates Data (0066,0016) or Double Point Coordinates Data (0066,0022) are in the same Z plane(s). See . This requirement means that it is mandatory to factor out the commonality, i.e., it is not permitted to send Point Coordinates Data (0066,0016) or Double Point Coordinates Data (0066,0022) with (X, Y, Z) triplets where all the Z values are the same. For Annotations of images that only have a single Z plane, or where all the points in an Annotation Group are coplanar and in the same Z plane, this condition will always be satisfied. Annotations in different Z planes can be separated into separate Annotation Groups in order to allow this condition to be satisfied, but using separate Annotation Groups is not required.

From NEMA PS3.3 §C.37.1.2.

Attribute Metadata

Tag
(006A,0010)
Keyword
CommonZCoordinateValue
Name
Common Z Coordinate Value
Value Representation (VR)
FD
Value Multiplicity (VM)
1-n
Status
Active
Source
NEMA PS3.6 (table_6-1)

This attribute is part of the current DICOM Standard. Its value representation is FD with multiplicity 1-n.

Used in 1 Module

This attribute uses the FD Value Representation. Multiplicity 1-n governs how many values may be encoded.

Integration Notes

Real-world integration guidance for engineers implementing this attribute in Mirth Connect, FHIR gateways, HL7 v2 bridges, and cloud DICOM services. Authoritative source data where available; reference examples and operational notes where they add value.

FHIR Mapping

No direct FHIR ImagingStudy mapping published for this attribute. Some tags map indirectly via the Patient, Endpoint, or ImagingSelection resources — Phase 2b will expand coverage to those.

HL7 v2 Equivalent

No standard HL7 v2 equivalent published for this attribute. Imaging-only attributes (Image Pixel data, technical acquisition parameters, modality-specific values) typically have no HL7 v2 carrier.

Cloud DICOM Support

AWS HealthImaging, Azure DICOM, and GCP Healthcare DICOM coverage rolls out by attribute. The QIDO-RS matching keys + Patient/Study/Series core (~50 attributes) are documented; lower-traffic attributes will be added as Saga teams encounter them in production.

Real-World Sample Values

No representative sample value available — this attribute isn't present in the de-identified pydicom fixture set. Add a fixture covering this attribute to expand coverage.

Mirth Connect Example

JavaScript transformer snippets for the most-queried tags will be added as coverage expands.

Common Operational Errors

Operational error patterns for the most-queried tags will be added as coverage expands.

DICOM Integration Services

Saga IT builds production DICOM integrations across Mirth Connect, FHIR gateways, and cloud imaging platforms. If you're working with CommonZCoordinateValue or the broader (006A,0010) context: