How to Read Dicom Files on Windoes Computer

Seeking a DICOM Viewer for Windows? Read these Tips and Options

Medical imaging technology has come a long way from simple radiographs and is at present represented by avant-garde, digitalized modalities such as CT and MRI. As the employ of medical imaging becomes more than widespread, there is a demand to better on other aspects of the workflow associated with imaging—reading the images and forming diagnostic reports besides equally proper storage and retrieval of medical images. Ane of the major advances in improving the medical imaging workflow has been the introduction of DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine).

Why Exercise I Demand DICOM Software?

Since medical engineering needs to encounter exacting requirements, a certain standard is expected of images that are obtained from patients. The DICOM format is a high standard, internationally accepted format for viewing, storing and sharing medical images. You will not exist able to see images acquired through a CT scan, MRI or other imaging techniques with the regular picture show viewing software available on your reckoner. Specialized software that supports the DICOM format is required for these purposes.

Microsoft Windows is one of the most common operating systems in utilise worldwide, with an estimated 78% of desktop and laptop users preferring it over other systems. Therefore, it makes sense to cull a DICOM viewing application that works best with Windows. A simple search on Google will open out a world of options showcasing the best DICOM viewer for Windows. Information technology may be hard, nevertheless, for the uninitiated to choose from these options and to understand the various features offered past DICOM viewers. The tips below will tell you what to look for when deciding on a DICOM viewer for Windows x, and other versions.

How to Select a Expert DICOM Viewer for Windows?

The kind of DICOM software that you should cull depends on several criteria. The nigh important existence the primary purpose of the software. You should also consider commercial and legal aspects, technical features, and the cost.

Primary purpose of the software

• Simple viewing of DICOM images: Are you lot a patient, and merely desire to be able to see your own scans? A simple viewer with minimum functionality will do. A viewer that offers sharing functions may help yous send the DICOM file easily to physicians for a second stance. Even for simple viewing, however, some applications take tweaks that let yous make pocket-size adjustments in the images—like brightness and contrast enhancements—that permit for amend visualization.

• Advanced diagnosis and treatment planning: If you're a radiologist and want to use the software primarily for diagnosis, you should look at viewers that offer features that non only enhance the quality of the paradigm simply also allow yous to become maximum information from the image files. Some avant-garde features that radiologists should definitely look for include the post-obit:

• 3D reconstruction — A software that allows 3D imaging can help radiologists orient themselves to the torso'south anatomy, which makes information technology easier to class a diagnosis. Look specifically for a 3D DICOM viewer for Windows.

• Multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) — This technology requires software that is capable of 3D imaging. This avant-garde characteristic allows radiologists to obtain new slices of images from the 3D constructed model. These new slices would exist different from the original slices obtained at the time of imaging and tin reduce the possibility of missing a primal abnormality. MPR is too useful when the radiologist wants to rails the course of a structure, such as a major blood vessel.

• Maximum and Minimum Intensity Projections (MIP and MINIP) — These allow radiologists to selectively view regions that have either maximum or minimum intensity values. It enables greater focus on areas of involvement by increasing the contrast between these areas and the surrounding normal tissue.

• Epitome fusion — It allows radiologists to merge images taken through ii different modalities such every bit PET and CT, or PET and MRI. This technique therefore encompasses the advantages of both modalities and enables greater accurateness in diagnosis.

• Real-time imaging — This characteristic in the DICOM software allows radiologists to view the epitome every bit and when it is beingness caused. This is useful when the functionality of a particular body part must be assessed.

If you lot're a surgeon, nigh of the above features can aid in treatment planning. 3D imaging gives a good thought of normal anatomical structures. Real-time imaging is useful peri-operatively to make decisions prior to closure. It should also be possible to import DICOM files into CAD/CAM or similar software, so that stents and other torso prostheses can exist constructed with ease of workflow.

• Research: As a researcher, you would need to collect information from multiple sets of DICOM files for information assay. A central upstanding component in research is patient confidentiality. Y'all would demand to choose a DICOM software that allows y'all to anonymize patient data. A researcher would also benefit from a DICOM software that has access to or comes with a PACS (Moving-picture show Archiving and Communications System) server. The server can either be part of an internal server, as in hospital databases, or it can be a cloud-based server which tin be accessed from anywhere using the cyberspace. This will aid the researcher locate, access and shop multiple files for data assay.

• Educational activity and learning: Smart teaching methods today require you to make presentations to share information with students. As a pupil yourself, yous may need to incorporate DICOM images into your reports and case presentations. For these purposes, information technology can be useful if the DICOM software allows yous to consign images hands in common file formats such as JPEG, PNG, or even to function applications. Equally a educatee, you may as well detect information technology convenient to share and receive DICOM files from other students or mentors. A software that allows for convenient sharing would be an added bonus.

It is quite possible that yous may intend to employ the DICOM software for more than 1 of the above listed reasons. In that case, place the uses that would be the most important for you and prioritize accordingly.

Commercial versus private use

If the use of DICOM images is going to directly impact patient wellness, it should be considered as commercial use. Just studying images, using them for teaching, or obtaining information from the images for enquiry does not plant commercial utilise. For commercial use, the software must have a CE mark and should exist labeled either 2a (software that aids in diagnosis) or 2b (software that directs diagnosis). In improver, whatever DICOM software that is used commercially in the United States must have the FDA seal of approval.

Toll and pricing

About DICOM software is bachelor gratuitous to use, but for a certain trial menstruum or with limited features. If y'all are a student, you may adopt to opt for a gratis version and compromise on features. As a radiologist selecting a software for infirmary use, yous may want a version with all avant-garde features even if it is available at a cost. Most of the DICOM viewers for Windows offer all avant-garde features for a limited trial catamenia, with an option to purchase at the end of the period. Some of the DICOM applications offering gratuitous software as long equally you do not require technical support.

In one case you have determined your needs, you can bank check the features of unlike DICOM viewers to encounter which one meets your requirements.

What are the Best Gratuitous DICOM Viewers for Windows?

To help yous choose wisely, we have compiled a list of the v most recommended DICOM viewers for Windows. We've selected them based on ease of use and features available.

PostDICOM

PostDICOM ranks as the all-time DICOM viewer for Windows. It has advanced imaging options, including 3D rendering, MPR, MIP and image fusion. Radiologists may detect this DICOM viewer for Windows particularly useful, because it offers a user-friendly interface likewise, that helps clinicians upload patient data to the PACS and generate reports. The software is uniform with most versions of Windows, and besides with other operating systems such as Mac OS, iOS and android interfaces.

The best function nearly PostDICOM is that it offers all the advanced features at no price to the user. You tin use the cloud-based PACS to shop about 50 GB of files. Data can be accessed through one user account and ten files can be shared with other users every month. If you lot have a high volume of cases or would similar more sharing and business relationship options, paid subscriptions are available with these features.

All in all, PostDICOM can be used for clinical as well equally education and learning purposes. Researchers and clinicians who see several cases a day can benefit from the paid version of this software.

RadiANT DICOM

RadiANT is an piece of cake to utilize DICOM viewer for Windows that has multiple features, including MPR, MIP and image fusion. Image files can exist easily exported to other formats. Multiple image files can be opened at the aforementioned time for comparison. This software is fast and easy to use, and does not crave installation—information technology can straight open files from a CD or DVD. It has a multilingual interface and is available in over 20 languages.

It does not come with a PACS server. Nonetheless, it does allow you to search and call back studies from other PACS locations. Information technology does non have CE certification, and information technology comes with a disclaimer stating that information technology is meant strictly for non-commercial use.

RadiANT has been found useful by researchers. It is useful for students and residents studying radiology.

Navegatium

The main advantage of Navegatium is that it is one of the easiest applications to operate. This software also carries advanced features like MPR and MIP. It does non permit for image fusion. Notwithstanding, the software can exist used to generate reports, which is useful for clinicians. 1 feature of this awarding that makes it particularly attractive to surgeons is that it can be linked to the Navegatium 3D press service, which allows printing of 3-dimensional models of body parts. This is useful for surgical planning and designing stents and guides for employ during surgery.

Navegatium does not have an inbuilt PACS server. However, information technology does permit integration to PACS for retrieving files. It likewise has a database of stored prototype files, called the Navegatium knowledge base of operations. These files can be used for comparing with your current images, for learning purposes.

This application is ideal for students and for teaching. It has adept features that enable limited use past clinicians. Although information technology is completely costless, the application does not accept FDA approving and this must be considered before using information technology commercially. This free DICOM viewer is ideally meant for Windows 10, but works on versions 8.1 and college.

ProSurgical

As the name suggests, this software was designed with surgeons in mind. It is fast and can open DICOM files straight from PACS, a CD/DVD, or even from a USB drive. Apart from 3D reconstruction, MPR and MIP, information technology as well allows oblique slicing of images. It allows side-by-side comparing of pre- and post-operative images. Ane unique feature of this software is that it allows images to be exported in the STL format. The STL format is needed for stereolithography, or 3D printing of surgical models. This is extremely useful in treatment planning and preparing guides and stents. ProSurgical DICOM viewer tin also anonymize patient data, so it is besides useful for researchers. Prosurgical 3D DICOM viewer for Windows works only on Windows 8.1 or college versions.

ONIS ii.5 DICOM Viewer

This is a fast and powerful DICOM viewer that is compatible even with older versions of Windows such as Windows Vista. Information technology has limited features like unmarried oblique MPR, and the ability to consign images to different formats. The complimentary version is limited to a database of 15 patients. The paid version has additional features, which include anonymization of patient information, use from multiple monitors, and 'on-demand' or direct opening of files from the source (PACS, USB or CD drive) without downloading the file into the local system. Features like double oblique MPR, MIP rendering and paradigm scale are available but in the paid version.

Since this free DICOM viewer for Windows ten is non licensed, it is mainly for students. Clinicians tin can opt to try this version first earlier switching to the paid version that has more than features.

In the stop, of the five elevation applications, PostDICOM appears to suit multiple purposes and if you are uncertain what your primary utilize will exist, this is your best bet. Since it is gratuitous to employ with all the advanced features, you can't go wrong. Try this costless DICOM viewer for Windows today!

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Source: https://www.postdicom.com/en/blog/dicom-viewer-for-windows