National Electrical Manufacturers Association Standard PS3: Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) Part 3.5 v2024b

This 158-page document specifies the structure and encoding of the DICOM message data set. The data set is the part of the DICOM message that conveys information about real-world objects managed over a network. This document specifies:

- the encoding of values

- the structure and usage of a data set

- the usage of a data element and relationships to other data elements

- the construction and usage of nested data sets

- the construction and usage of data sets containing pixel data

- how to uniquely identify information

- the specification of the standard DICOM transfer syntax.

This document is one of 22 parts to the DICOM standard.

Main sections:

- Scope and field of application

- Normative references

- Definitions

- Symbols and abbreviations

- Conventions

- Value encoding

- The data set

- Encoding of pixel, overlay and waveform data

- Unique identifiers

- Transfer syntax

- Transfer syntax specifications (normative)

- Creating a privately defined unique identifier (normative)

- DICOM unique identifier registration process (informative)

- Examples of various pixel data and overlay encoding schemes (informative)

- DICOM default character repertoire (normative)

- Encapsulated images as part of a DICOM message (informative)

- Encapsulated RLE compressed images (normative)

- Character sets and person name value representation