Understanding 3DICOM’s Storage Options

An Introduction to 3DICOM’s Storage Options

3DICOM offers flexible storage solutions for storing and accessing medical imaging records. This guide explains the two available storage options, when to choose them, where to do so in the platform, and how to upgrade or downgrade your scan storage.

3DICOM Storage Options

Two storage options are available for storing your scans and records in the 3DICOM Viewer.

All 3DICOM subscriptions include a set number of complimentary 3DICOM Credits, which can be used to upgrade your scans to Long-Term Cloud Storage. Read all about 3DICOM Credits in this handy guide.

Each storage option is detailed under the tabs below.

Short-Term Storage Long-Term Cloud Storage

Short-Term Storage

Storage Type	Credits	Access Period
Short-Term Storage	Free	7 days

The default storage option when uploading your scans is 3DICOM Short-Term Storage, which provides convenient, quick 7-day storage of your medical scans on our secure servers—great for quick review or sharing. After the free 7-day storage period, any scans that have not been transferred to long-term storage are permanently deleted from the 3DICOM servers.

To keep your scan accessible in the 3DCIOM Viewer, simply upgrade your scan to the Long-Term Cloud Storage option before the free 7-day storage period ends.

Long-Term Cloud Storage

Storage Type	Credits	Access Period
Long-Term Cloud Storage	5 credits per scan/year	365 days

The best choice for secure, ongoing, convenient access to your medical imaging records, 3DICOM’s Long-Term Cloud Storage lets you store selected scans for 365 days at just 5 credits per scan. This provides you access to your records anytime—for consultations, mobile viewing, or sharing with specialists—wherever you are.

Selecting a Storage Option on Upload

3DICOM enables users to select their preferred storage option on upload when uploading their medical scans.

Instructions on how to select your storage option on upload are provided below.

How to Select your Storage Option on Upload

Steps to get there:

1. Log in to your 3DICOM account. You will be automatically directed to the dashboard.

2. Click ‘Upload Scan’ to open your computer’s file browser.

3. Find and select the folder containing your medical imaging files.

At this stage of the process, 3DICOM will browse your selected folder to identify any available DICOM series suitable for upload.  

4. Select the DICOM series you want to upload and view, and hit ‘Next’. 

5. Choose whether to anonymize your scan or edit folder names, then click ‘Next’. 

To understand the benefits of anonymizing scans and how to use the anonymization tool, visit Anonymizing Your Scans on 3DICOM.

6. Choose your preferred storage option, and hit ‘Next’.

7. Click ‘Upload’ to complete the process.

Once your scan is uploaded, it will open in the 3DICOM Online Viewer for both viewing and editing. Depending on your selected storage option, it will either be stored temporarily for seven days or saved for 365 days with long-term storage. You can manage your stored scans by upgrading or downgrading your storage anytime through your 3DICOM Account.

Upgrading Storage

Scan storage can be upgraded at any time via the Recent Activity panel or Scans/Records tab.

Instructions on how to upgrade your scan storage from both areas are provided below.

Recent Activity Scans/Records

From Recent Activity

Steps to get there:

1. Log in to your 3DICOM account. You will be automatically directed to the dashboard.

2. Scroll down to Recent Activity.

3. Click the three-dot symbol next to the scan you want to upgrade and select ‘Upgrade Storage’.

4. Click UPGRADE to confirm.

This will immediately upgrade your scan to long-term cloud storage and deduct 5 credits.

From Scans/Records

Steps to get there:

1. Log in to your 3DICOM account. You will be automatically directed to the dashboard.

2. Click ‘View scans/records’ to open the Scans/Records tab.

3. Using the Library column, locate the main folder containing the scan you wish to upgrade to long-term storage and click the arrow to the left reveal its subfolder.

This first subfolder in the file structure is the Patient Study which contains the DICOM Series. 

4. In the Library panel, click the first subfolder to display the DICOM Series in the Scans/Records panel.

The DICOM Series contains your Scan and any other accompanying images and files, including (where applicable) PDF Notes or Reports and 3D Objects created through segmentation.     

5. On the DICOM Series, select the three-dot icon under the Actions heading to reveal the Upgrade Storage option. And click ‘Upgrade Storage’.

6. Click ‘Upgrade’ to confirm.

This will immediately upgrade your scan to long-term cloud storage and deduct 5 credits.

Downgrading Storage

Scan storage can be downgraded at any time via the Recent Activity panel or Scans/Records tab..

Instructions on how to downgrade your scan storage from both areas are provided below.

Recent Activity Scans/Records

From Recent Activity

Steps to get there:

1. Log in to your 3DICOM account. You will be automatically directed to the dashboard.

2. Scroll down to Recent Activity.

3. Click the three-dot symbol next to the scan you want to downgrade and select ‘Downgrade Storage’.

4. Click ‘Downgrade’ to confirm.

This will immediately downgrade your scan to short-term storage, allowing you to access and view it for 7 days before it expires.

From Scans/Records

Steps to get there:

1. Log in to your 3DICOM account. You will be automatically directed to the dashboard.

2. Click ‘View scans/records’ to open the Scans/Records tab.

3. Using the Library column, locate the main folder containing the scan you wish to downgrade to short-term storage and click the arrow to the left reveal its subfolder.

This first subfolder in the file structure is the Patient Study which contains the DICOM Series. 

4. In the Library panel, click the first subfolder to display the DICOM Series in the Scans/Records panel.

The DICOM Series contains your Scan and any other accompanying images and files, including (where applicable) PDF Notes or Reports and 3D Objects created through segmentation.     

5. On the DICOM Series, select the three-dot icon under the Actions heading to reveal the Downgrade Storage option. And click ‘Downgrade Storage’.

6. Click ‘Downgrade’ to confirm.

This will immediately downgrade your scan to short-term storage, allowing you to access and view it for 7 days before it expires.

CONCLUSION

Whether you’re uploading for short-term review or long-term reference, 3DICOM gives you complete control over how your scans are stored and accessed. Managing your medical files is easy on 3DICOM with the flexible options and simple upgrade or downgrade functionality. 3DICOM’s storage solutions provide flexibility, security, and control, allowing you to handle your medical imaging information on your own terms.