FAQ

Medical Images

What format did we choose for this project?

For all BreastScreening, MIDA and MIMBCD-UI projects, we choose the .dcm extension format for our medical images. The extension means that we are using the DICOM format that is a slightly unique format as it does not only store the image pixel data (as a special attributes) but also datasets, which are made up of attributes. These datasets contain critical information that must be kept within the file to ensure they are never separated from each other.

What does DICOM means?

DICOM stands for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine and is a worldwide standard that defines how to store, exchange and transmit medical images. For instance, image devices including: (i) X-Rays, e.g., MammoGraphy (MG); (ii) UltraSound (US); and (iii) Magnetic Ressonance Imaging (MRI); utilize this standard and are the three modalities used by these projects. The standard (originally named ACR/NEMA 300) were created to serve the purpose of medical practitioners that wanted to decode images in order to dose-plan for radiation therapy. The standard was not perfect from the get go.

How to get the project's medical images?

Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) is a standard for handling, storing, printing, and transmitting information in medical imaging.

We have two ways to download, or access, our available medical images:

1. Cloning the dataset-dicom-images repository to a local machine;

2. Following the Orthanc Book of the Downloading images section;

How to clone the dataset-dicom-images repository?

1.1. Clone the project repository:

git clone [email protected]:BreastScreening/dataset-dicom-images.git

1.2. Go inside the project folder:

cd dataset-dicom-images/

How to download via Orthanc Book solution?

Follow this example of our own project:

curl http://breastscreening.isr.tecnico.ulisboa.pt:8042/instances/84c8a18c-f915cb76-25281dec-844c3480-c5a75279/file > Instance.dcm