Standardization of digital radiologic images

The need for uniform digital formats of radiologic images obtained from the human body by the various methods (CT, MRI, DF, DSA, NM) is felt by both the manufacturers and the radiologists since a long time. The ACR-NEMA standard was initially established to overcome this problem, however it was not fully satisfactory. Its up-dated version, DICOM 3 seems a more successful approach to the solution of the problem. The rationale on which DICOM 3 is based, the main guidelines with some reference to the various parts of the new standard, are analyzed. Its advantages as well as disadvantages are considered in view of a future complete integration of data and images of a radiology department within a hospital information system. In the appendix, a list of DICOM components and addresses where to find the original documentation are supplied.