File Extension DCM

File type: DICOM Image File

About the DCM file type:

If Windows cannot find the appropriate program associated with .DCM files, then your registry may have errors. Check your Windows registry for errors (includes file association errors).

The use of the DCM file extension is associated with the image file generated by the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) format. This image file was developed by NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) as an industry standard for the distribution and viewing of medical images taken by devices like Ultrasound, CT Scans, and MRIs among others. This digital imaging standard pioneered in the medical industry by NEMA stores data which is associated to different scanning procedures done in medical examinations. This file format also incorporates the definition of the network communication protocol utilized in the transmission of the images. The communication protocol used by this format is in accordance with the TCP/IP standards normally implemented to establish communication networks between two or more systems. This is also the same protocol used for establishing a connection to the Internet. To efficiently exchange data, the involved entities must be capable not only of receiving images but patient data as well which are both in DICOM standard formats. The Standards Committee which developed the DICOM format is likewise partly a member of NEMA which holds the copyrights of this file specification.


Detailed information for file extension DCM

Category: Image File
File format: Proprietary
Open with Windows: ACD Systems Canvas, ezDICOM, MRIcro, XnView, IrfanView, The GIMP, ImageMagick, DicomWorks
Open with Linux: MRIcro, The GIMP, ImageMagick
Through the development of the standard supported by the DCM file extension, it is possible to allow the integration of network hardware, printers, workstations, servers, and scanners without taking into consideration the diverse manufacturers of the devices. Through this format, the PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) can be uniformly implemented with assurance of minimizing compatibility problems. The devices utilized in the medical industry come with their individual DICOM conformance statements to clearly indicate the class that the specific device supports. Because of this, the DCM file extension can be widely seen in hospitals, dentists', and doctors' offices. When taken in the context of other data file formats, the DCM format file differs by grouping information under a single data set. This literally means that data for a chest X-Ray image would also include information on the patient ID within the same file to make sure that it is never interchanged with another patient's records. A single DCM file extension can consist of several attributes with one DICOM object capable of holding only a single attribute that stores the pixel data.