What is DICOM?

• A. A general graphic image format with no metadata
• B. A plain text medical record format
• C. An audio-visual storage standard
• D. Medical image format; keeps quality + metadata; needs DICOM viewer

Answer: (D)

DICOM is a medical imaging standard that defines how images and their accompanying information are stored, transmitted, and displayed. It ensures the image data is kept with its clinical context—patient details, study description, modality, acquisition parameters—so when the image is viewed, all the relevant information travels with it. This combination preserves image quality and provides essential metadata for interpretation and workflow.

Because of this built-in metadata and the specialized data structure, you typically view DICOM data with a DICOM viewer or PACS workstation rather than a generic image viewer. The standard also includes rules for transferring studies between devices and systems (like scanners, servers, and workstations), enabling interoperability across the radiology department and beyond.