Introduction to the ACR-NEMA DICOM standard.

TLDR

The DICOM standard, developed by the ACR–NEMA committee starting in 1982, promotes open, network‑based interconnection of imaging equipment while remaining compatible with earlier point‑to‑point systems and aligning with the ISO reference model and object‑oriented design principles. The goal was to finalize DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) as a comprehensive standard by 1992. Version 1.0 defined a hardware interface, data dictionary, and transaction commands for point‑to‑point image transfer, while version 2.0 added semantic rules for organizing message streams.

Abstract

In 1982, the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) formed a committee to develop standards for the interconnection of digital imaging devices. Version 1.0 of the standard, published in 1985, specifies a hardware interface supporting point-to-point (not network) image transmission, a data dictionary (a set of rules for encoding information), and a set of commands to initiate transactions. Version 2.0, published in 1988, also addresses point-to-point image transmission and provides semantic rules by which messages (streams of bits representing information in transit from one device to another) are organized. Version 3.0, also referred to as DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine), will be finalized in 1992. The DICOM standard encourages open systems interconnection of imaging equipment over standard networks, while maintaining compatibility with earlier point-to-point connection standards. The DICOM standard conforms fully with the International Standards Organization reference model for network communications (ISORM), addresses the issue of conformance, and incorporates the concept of object-oriented design.