5) Exploring the DICOM Viewer

Now that you’ve logged into 3DICOM and uploaded your first DICOM series, it’s time to explore the various features of the viewer. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each section to help you make the most of the software.

General Settings and Account Settings

Within the general settings, you can adjust your account preferences and display configurations. This includes updating personal details, managing subscription tiers, and enabling or disabling certain functionalities like cloud storage or secure sharing options. Explore the settings menu to customize the viewer based on your preferences, whether it’s adjusting the language or managing your cloud storage access.

Primary Action Bar

The primary action bar is where you’ll perform key actions:

• Loading: Add new DICOM files or switch between series.
• Sharing: Securely share DICOM files with healthcare professionals or collaborators. You can either share files directly or via cloud-based links, ensuring that all data is encrypted for privacy.
• Storing: Manage your storage options, including saving files to the cloud for long-term access or retaining files on local storage for quicker access.

Display Settings

The display settings section allows you to customize how your DICOM images are shown. You can:

• Adjust the brightness, contrast, and windowing options for optimal viewing.
• Switch between 2D and 3D views, enabling more in-depth examination of the medical images.
• Toggle multi-planar reconstructions (MPR) to view the images in sagittal, axial, and coronal planes for better understanding.

Measure

The measure tool is perfect for healthcare professionals needing precision in their assessments. Use this tool to:

• Take linear measurements between points on the image.
• Measure angles or assess specific areas of interest.
• Calculate areas or volumes in 3D mode for a more detailed understanding of the anatomical structures.

Annotate

The annotate function allows you to mark specific points of interest within your DICOM images. Annotations can be added as:

• Text notes on important areas, ideal for recording observations or clinical findings.
• Arrows or markers to highlight critical points, allowing for better communication with other healthcare professionals or for personal reference.

Design

For 3DICOM MD and R&D users, the design feature provides the ability to create custom 3D models from your DICOM data. You can:

• Segment areas of interest and export models for use in medical presentations or research.
• Design patient-specific models that can be integrated into clinical planning or research workflows.

History

The history feature keeps a detailed log of all the actions performed within the viewer. This includes:

• A timeline of files uploaded, annotations made, and measurements taken.
• The ability to revert changes or reload previous versions of a file if needed.

Conclusion

The 3DICOM Viewer offers a rich set of features for both professionals and patients, from simple viewing and annotation to complex measurement and 3D modeling. Whether you are a healthcare professional or a patient trying to understand your medical images, these tools make the platform accessible and powerful. Explore the settings and features step by step, and as you become more comfortable, you’ll find that 3DICOM is an invaluable resource for managing and interpreting your DICOM files.