DICOM directory (DICOMDIR) viewer
A set of image slices from a CT or MRI scanner are commonly stored in DICOM format.
Part of the DICOM format allows a group of files (per patient, per study etc.) to be accessed
more easily via what is known as a DICOM Directory. This is a single file - usually named
just 'DICOMDIR' - which contains both data about the patient and the scanner parameters used,
and also references to the individual image slices which make up the complete scan.
As our medical imaging research is based on producing 3D reconstructions from sets of
image slices, we typically access data saved to CD from the hospital scanner in DICOMDIR
format. In developing and testing these DICOM routines, we have developed a small but useful
utility, which will open and display images in 2D from this DICOM data.
This utility is called DCMView and is available free for any use - commercial
or non-commercial - by download from our site.
DCMView
DCMView is written in Microsoft Visual C++ (VC7) and uses a VC7 port of the
OFFIS DCMTK DICOM Toolkit.
The application will read a DICOMDIR from CD or disk and will load thumbnail images of all
DICOM slices, which may be scrolled through as shown in the sample screenshot above.
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Double-clicking a thumbnail image will produce a detail display of that slice, as shown on the left.
From this detailed display, the window level and width may be adjusted by entering values directly or by selecting from a small range of preset values:
- Abdomen / pelvis
- Bone
- Brain
- Chest
- Head
- Neck
- Lung
The image may also be zoomed by right-click and drag or moved by left-click and drag.
Additional options allow the image to be copied to the clipboard or saved to a bitmap. It is also possible to scroll backward and forward through the slices from this view. |
Disclaimer
DCMView is supplied free of charge on the understanding that the images it produces are not
guaranteed to be free from defects or imaging artifacts, and should not be relied upon for the
purpose of clinical diagnosis or any other activity in which the quality and reliability of the
displayed image play an important part. By downloading and/or using this software, you are
deemed to have read and understood these conditions.
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