A DICOM object is identified by its Information Object Definition, or IOD. These IODs are specified using modules, which consists of the most basic DICOM unit, the data element or attribute.

The modules are described as a group of data elements. The DICOM standard uses modules to group information items that are similar for multiple objects so they only have to be defined once in the standard. For example, a patient module is related to the real-world patient information entity, and contains patient name, birth date, sex, etc.

The IOD definitions start with a module table for each modality type, and list all of the modules included in that IOD. These modules could be mandatory, optional or conditionally required. The patient module is a good example of a mandatory module, because without patient information, the image is unidentifiable and useless. Because it is possible that a patient needing to be treated may be unconscious, not have any ID on their person, and with no person who knows the individual accompanying them, a temporary ID and medical record number may be assigned so the patient can be entered into the electronic medical record and may have various examinations including imaging studies, performed on them. To allow for later reconciling this temporary information with the patient’s correct ID, IHE has a part of the Radiology Scheduled Workflow Profile (SWF) called the “Patient Information Reconciliation” integration profile or PIR.

Topic

  • DICOM

WW

WW stands for Window Width. Window Width controls contrast is a range of grayscale values to be mapped on monitor…

SMPTE

SMPTE (Society for Motion Picture and Television Engineers) is an international standards development organization. SMPTE has specified several test patterns,…

SOP Class

A SOP (Service Object Pair) Class is a combination of a service such as Store, Retrieve, and an object such…