What is this DCM file?
Files with the .DCM extension contain digital medical images as well as patient information encoded in the standardized DICOM format, short for Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine.
The format allows you to save images for medical examination, such as magnetic resonance imaging or MRI for short computed tomography, also known as CT, as well as ultrasound, abbreviated as USG. The DCM format was introduced by NEMA, which is short for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, with the goal of creating a uniform method for storing exam images and patient information, as well as exam descriptions.
Program(s) that can open the file .DCM
Windows
MacOS
linux
How to open DCM files
If a situation arises in which you cannot open DCM file on your computer - there may be several reasons. The first and at the same time the most important (the most common) is the lack of a suitable application that supports DCM among those that are installed on your computer.
by the most in a simple way The solution to this problem is to find and download the appropriate application. The first part of the task has already been completed - you will find programs to support the DCM file below. Now it is enough to download and install the appropriate application.
Further down this page you will find more possible reasons causing problems with DCM files.
Possible problems with the DCM format files
The inability to open and work with the DCM file should not mean at all that we do not have the appropriate software installed on our computer. There may be other issues that also block our ability to operate the Dicom Medicine Image File Format file. Below is a list of possible problems.
- Corruption of a DCM file which is being opened
- Incorrect links to the DCM file in registry entries.
- Accidentally deleting DCM extension description from Windows Registry
- Incomplete installation of an application that supports DCM format
- The DCM file which is being opened is infected with an undesirable malware.
- There is not enough space on the computer to open the DCM file.
- Drivers of equipment used by the computer to open a DCM file are out of date.
If you are sure that all of the above reasons do not exist in your case (or have already been ruled out), the DCM file should work with your programs without any problems. If the problem with the DCM file has not been solved, it may be due to the fact that in this case there is another rare problem with the DCM file. In this case, only the help of a specialist remains.
How to link a file to installed program?
If you want to link a file to new program(eg moj-plik.DCM) You have two options. The first and the easiest one is to right-click on the selected DCM file. From open menu select an option Select default program", then the option "Revisit" and find the required program. The entire operation must be approved by pressing the OK button.
Is there a universal method for opening unknown files?
Many files contain data in the form of text or numbers. It is possible that while opening unknown files (ex. DCM) popular in the system Windows simple text editor, which is Notatnik will allow us to see some of the data encoded in the file. This method allows you to view the contents of many files, but not in the same form as the program designed to serve them.
Have a problem opening a .dcm file? We collect information about file formats and can explain what DCM files are. Additionally, we recommend programs that are most suitable for opening or converting such files.
What is the .DCM file format for?
Main expansion association .dcm belongs to the DICOM Image (DCM) file format and its corresponding file type. DICOM is an acronym for "Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine". DICOM is a standard format for storing and processing medical examination data in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), PET (positron emission tomography), ultrasound, etc. DICOM reports are saved as files .dcm.
File .dcm is a report file with the results of the examination, which contains the actual images obtained using the appropriate medical device (X-ray machine, MRI scanner, ultrasound, etc.), as well as extensive metadata. It is assumed that DCM files should contain all the necessary information about the patient, clinic, device, examination procedure, equipment settings, etc. Files .dcm often contain a series of sequentially taken pictures ("slices").
Open DICOM files ( .dcm) and display the images contained in them, many free and commercial specialized utilities are capable of displaying. The DCM format is also supported by several universal image processing and viewing tools (eg ImageMagick). Using converters, DCM images can be converted to BMP formats, PNG, GIF or JPG.
In addition, the extension .dcm used for metadata files backups (.dcm) created and used by Memeo AutoBackup. This remedy Reserve copy, which provides the main functionality within several backup utilities from manufacturers of rigid drives (e.g. Seagate, Western Digital).
File .dcm is a small (~1 KB) hidden binary file with service data such as file name and path, copy timestamp, etc. For each file copied during backup, a file is created in the destination directory separate file .dcm. Such files are used by Memeo to manage the backup process and should not be manually deleted.
As for DiskCatalogMaker, a utility for generating directory listings file system for Mac OS X by Fujiwara Software, in this case the extension .dcm stands for the DiskCatalogMaker Catalog (DCM) file type/format. File .dcm in a private format, contains a detailed, formatted listing of the contents of a directory (or directories). Such files ( .dcm) can only be opened and exported to standard formats using DiskCatalogMaker.
Finally, the extension .dcm may also occur in association with the Digital City Map (DCM) file format/type used by CityGuide, a Russian multi-platform GPS navigation solution from MIT LLC. DCM was the main map file format in previous versions of CityGuide (5.x), but has now been replaced by the CGMAP format. File .dcm is a multi-layer container containing multiple GIS data for a specific area.
Programs to open or convert DCM files
You can open DCM files with the following programs: The question often arises: if the results of an MRI or CT were given out on a disk, how to view the images? Indeed, in recent years, medical centers are increasingly resorting to issuing images on CD or DVD, and this is better than having images on film. Why is it possible. So how can you view MRI and CT images from a disk, using which program?
About the CT and MRI file format
The CT or MRI exam files on the disk are in a special DICOM format and cannot be opened with conventional image viewers. DICOM is a medical image format where, in addition to the actual picture, other information is “embedded” into each file – the patient’s name, age, image number, scanning mode designations, etc.
Programs for opening CT and MRI files
To open pictures from a CD, you will need special program- DICOM viewer. There are many such programs, paid and free. The most comfortable of free programs— Radiant DICOM Viewer. You can download it. This program can open absolutely any medical images in DICOM format, such as MRI, CT, PET-CT, X-ray, mammography, angiography, etc.
To open pictures with the Radiant program, you need to copy the entire contents of the disk to a folder on your computer, then go into the program, click in the left upper corner Scan folder for DICOM files button and select this folder. You can read more about how the program works.
The best software for MAC-OS is Osirix. Download free version for desktop computer can . The Osirix version for iPhone and iPad is sold at Apple Store or .
Often an MRI or CT is written to disk already with a viewer program. In this case, you do not need to disable autorun on your computer, and the viewer will start automatically. The disadvantage of such programs is that they are usually not very convenient to use. Therefore, we advise you to install Radiant anyway.
Remember that it does not even exclude the medical diagnosis, because the reliability of the diagnosis directly depends on the doctor's ability to decipher the pictures. Therefore, if there is any doubt about the diagnosis, doctors recommend getting a Second Opinion - an MRI or CT transcript from an expert-level radiologist in order to confirm or refute the diagnosis, as well as a more accurate and detailed description of the images. Russia has the National Teleradiological Network - a remote consultation service, through which anyone can contact leading diagnosticians from Moscow or St. Petersburg, send them research files and receive a qualified description. This consultation is of particular importance in oncological, neurological and other complex diseases.
The DCM format was created for a specific and specialized purpose, namely the creation and storage of DICOM images used in medicine. In the DCM files you can find: MRI scan, CAT scan, or ultrasound scan. In addition, in addition to this, such files may also contain patient identification data - all of them are stored in one file.
What is DICOM?
DICOM is an acronym for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. This is the standard digital image and image exchange, used exclusively in medicine. It was developed and normalized in connection with the need to unify the processes of exchange and interpretation of data related to the descriptions of medical diagnostic images. It includes images such as those obtained with a tomography computer, positron emission tomography, MRI scanner, using digital subtractive angiography, digital or conventional radiography, and any other devices that use advanced digital technologies during the study. high level detail. The image resolution in DCM format is very high. These images are large. To open such a file, you need the appropriate software and professional equipment. In addition, it is also necessary to have a connection with a high throughput. This allows you to support high quality Images.
Additional information about DCM files
- The format was developed by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).
- The information contained in DCM files can be easily transferred between devices that support this format.
Programs that support DCM file
Converting a DCM file
After installing one of the applications from the list of programs you found here, you should have no problems opening or editing the DCM file. If you still have a problem with this, you can convert DCM files to another format.
Converting a file with the DCM extension to another format
Converting Other Format Files to a DCM File
We hope we helped you solve the problem with the DCM file. If you do not know where you can download an application from our list, click on the link (this is the name of the program) - you will find more detailed information where to download the secure installation version of the required application.
What else can cause problems?
There may be more reasons that you cannot open a DCM file (not just the lack of an appropriate application).
Firstly- DCM file may be incorrectly linked (incompatible) with installed application for his service. In this case, you need to change this connection yourself. For this purpose, press right button mouse on the DCM file you want to edit, click the option "To open with" and then select the program you have installed from the list. After such an action, problems with opening the DCM file should completely disappear.
Secondly- the file you want to open may simply be corrupted. Then, the best solution is to find a new version, or download it again from the same source as before (maybe for some reason in the previous session the download of the DCM file has not been completed and it cannot be opened properly).
Do you want to help?
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