Understanding DICOM: The Standard That Powers Medical Images

Whenever you get an X-ray, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, or any medical imaging test, the machine produces digital pictures of the inside of your body. But these images are not simple photos like the ones you take on your phone. They contain medical measurements, machine settings, and important details that doctors use for diagnosis. This is where DICOM comes in.

👉 Without DICOM, every machine (MRI, CT, X-ray) would use different formats.

What Is DICOM?

DICOM (pronounced “die-com”) stands for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. It is the global standard for storing, sending, and viewing medical images.

Think of DICOM as a specialized format that keeps:

  • the image
  • all the medical details behind the image
  • patient information
  • machine settings
  • diagnosis notes

all together in one safe and readable file.

Why Do We Need DICOM?

Without DICOM, every machine (MRI, CT, X-ray) would use different formats. That would mean:

  • one hospital couldn’t read images from another
  • doctors couldn’t compare scans easily
  • patients would have to repeat expensive tests
  • data could get mixed up or lost
  • image quality might be poor or inconsistent

DICOM solves all of this by making sure every imaging device speaks the same language.

How DICOM Is Used in Healthcare

DICOM is used every time medical images need to be:

  • captured
  • stored
  • transferred
  • viewed
  • archived

Examples:

  • A radiology machine sends the scan to a hospital server.
  • A doctor opens your scan on a DICOM viewer.
  • A specialist in another city reviews your CT scan remotely.
  • A lab attaches the DICOM file to your electronic record.
  • A surgeon views your MRI before planning surgery.

Because DICOM includes both image + medical data, doctors can zoom, measure, compare, and analyze the scan accurately.

Why Should an Average Patient Know About DICOM?

Even if you’re not a doctor, DICOM affects your healthcare experience.

✔ You don’t need to repeat expensive scans

Your DICOM files can be shared easily with any doctor or hospital.

✔ You get better diagnosis

Doctors get detailed, high-quality images—not compressed or unclear copies.

✔ Your health record stays complete

DICOM images become part of a unified medical record.

✔ Remote care becomes possible

You can get second opinions without traveling far.

✔ More control over your medical history

Many hospitals now give patients DICOM copies of their scans on USB or online portals.

How DICOM Helps Healthcare Informatics

Healthcare informatics is about using data to improve care. DICOM plays a major role by:

  • ensuring standardized image formats across all radiology devices
  • enabling fast sharing of images between systems
  • supporting AI tools that analyze medical images
  • integrating imaging data into EMRs and hospital systems
  • helping build a complete patient health record that includes imaging history

With DICOM, healthcare becomes more connected, accurate, and efficient.

How BanglaTech Solutions Use DICOM

In BanglaTech’s digital health ecosystem:

CloudPMS

  • Can receive radiology reports linked with DICOM images
  • Helps small clinics share scans with labs and specialists

CloudLIS

  • Integrates with radiology centers to attach scans to lab reports
  • Sends imaging results to doctors in an instantly readable format

CloudHMS

  • Provides a full PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) integration
  • Stores and displays DICOM images for OPD, IPD, and radiology departments
  • Links every scan to one unified patient record

This ensures that every imaging test becomes part of your One Health Record, no matter where it was done.