Introduction to DICOM for the practicing veterinarian

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Medical Imaging Technology
• Health Informatics

Background:

• The transition to digital imaging in veterinary medicine presents opportunities for enhanced diagnostics and data management.
• Standardized communication protocols are essential for interoperability between diverse medical imaging devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of the Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) standard for veterinary digital imaging.
• To discuss the components of the DICOM standard relevant to veterinary applications.

Main Methods:

• Review of DICOM standard components including service objects, roles, and service classes.
• Analysis of DICOM's universal acceptance by major medical vendors.

Main Results:

• The widespread adoption of DICOM by major vendors simplifies its integration into veterinary practices.
• DICOM provides a standardized framework for communication between veterinary imaging devices.

Conclusions:

• Implementing DICOM is key to a smooth digital transition in veterinary medicine.
• The use of DICOM-compliant image acquisition and archiving systems is strongly recommended.