DICOM

DICOM is the universal communication protocol and file format for medical imaging, enabling interoperability across scanners, servers, and workstations.

DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) serves as the backbone of modern radiology by standardizing how medical images are captured, stored, and shared. It bundles pixel data with critical metadata—such as patient demographics, acquisition parameters, and equipment details—into a single .dcm file to ensure clinical context remains intact. Beyond file structures, the standard defines network protocols like C-STORE and C-FIND for moving data between modalities and PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems). Whether you are managing 3D MRI volumes or high-frame-rate ultrasound loops, DICOM provides the rigorous framework necessary for multi-vendor systems to communicate reliably.

https://www.dicomstandard.org