What Is DICOM? The Medical Imaging Standard in the Clinic

DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) is a globally used standard for storing, sharing, and displaying medical images. Developed in 1985 by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and NEMA, it has become a cornerstone of hospital and clinical informatics today.

Why DICOM?

Without DICOM, devices from different manufacturers (Siemens, GE, Philips, Canon, Hologic) could not communicate with one another. If a single clinic has X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound devices from 5 different brands, they all speak a standard language through DICOM. This enables:

Images to be gathered in a central system
Physicians to access images wherever they are
Tele-radiology consultations to be carried out
All images to be unified within the patient record

DICOM Components

DICOM is not merely a file format. It is a complete ecosystem:

DICOM File: An image file with the .dcm extension. It contains pixel data plus metadata (patient name, acquisition date, modality, device parameters).
DICOM Network Protocol: Communication between devices (DICOM TCP/IP). The C-STORE (send image), C-FIND (query), and C-MOVE (retrieve) services.
PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System): A server that stores and serves DICOM images. KRATS can operate as a PACS client.
Modality Worklist: The service devices use to learn which patient to scan. Once you register a patient, your X-ray device retrieves the list automatically.

The KRATS DICOM Module

KRATS offers a built-in DICOM viewer and PACS client within its clinic management software. Its features include:

Built-in viewer: Opens X-ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound images. Window width/level, zoom, and measurement tools.
PACS synchronization: Connects to your existing PACS servers (Orthanc, dcm4chee, ClearCanvas).
Modality Worklist: Provides an automatic worklist for the devices within the clinic.
3D reconstruction (for CT): Volume rendering support in advanced versions.
KVKK-compliant storage: Images are stored encrypted, and access is written to an audit log.

DICOM for Small Clinics

In the past, only large hospitals had a DICOM infrastructure. Today, small dental clinics, physiotherapy centers, and imaging centers use DICOM as well. KRATS makes this transition easier: with a single click, you integrate DICOM images into your clinic management screen.

Conclusion

DICOM is not a luxury; it is the standard of professional clinic management. By integrating your imaging devices with KRATS, you can securely access patient images from any device, anywhere. To see the application in a demo, you can create a demo request.