Which statement about DICOM metadata is true?

• A. DICOM images do not include metadata.
• B. DICOM images use external metadata files only.
• C. DICOM keeps metadata with the image.
• D. DICOM metadata is stored separately from the image.

Answer: (C)

DICOM files bundle both the image data and its accompanying information in one place, so the metadata travels with the image. The DICOM dataset includes many attributes—patient demographics, study and series identifiers, acquisition parameters, imaging modality, orientation, spacing, and more—together with the pixel data. This integrated design means you don’t rely on separate metadata files to interpret the image; everything needed to understand and reuse the image sits in the same file or dataset. While some workflows can reference external records, the standard practice is that the metadata is stored with the image, making the statement true.