DICOM Explorer

Structure and display of Patients/Studies/Series

DICOM Explorer

The DICOM Explorer is the panel on the left that displays the Patient/Study/Series representation defined in the DICOM standard.

The data displayed in the DICOM Explorer can be imported form different ways .

Patient Level

• Weasis allows multi-patient display. By default, when images are imported a tab with the patient’s name opens in the main area.
• A tab containing a multi-view layout can only display images from a single patient.
• Changing patients can be done either through the first combobox in the DICOM Explorer (see image above) or by selecting a tab in the main area.
• In the combobox the patients are sorted in alphabetical order regardless of case and according to the regional setting .
• Studies and Series are displayed within the same patient when the metadata Patient Name and Patient ID are the same. Otherwise new patients are displayed.

Study Level

• An study contains one or more series (thumbnails) belonging to a patient. A line representing the study surrounds its series (see image above).
• The studies are sorted by reverse chronology (most recent first). If there is no study date then the studies are sorted alphabetically according to the Study Description.
• By default all the studies are displayed, however you can choose to display only one of them from the study combobox.

Series Level

• A series is represented by a thumbnail that contains a certain number of images (number displayed at the bottom left).
• According to predefined rules , some series are separated into sub-series also represented by a thumbnail with a number preceded by ‘#’ in the upper right corner. Series splitting is necessary for the consistency of some tools such as the MPR, cross-lines and synchronization of series.
• The sorting of the series is done by the serial number and if this last one is not present then in a chronological way by the date of the series or other dates.
• To open new series:
  • Drag and drop a thumbnail in the main area (if the series is dropped in a view of the same patient then the series is replaced otherwise a new tab is created).
  • Double click or navigate with the up/down arrow key and press return on an selected thumbnail (if a view of the same patient exists then the series in the view surrounded by an orange line is replaced)
  • Select one or more thumbnails and choose an action from the “2D DICOM Viewer” context menu:
    • Open: Opens the series in the most appropriate layout (replaces the series if the patient’s tab already exists)
    • Open in new tab: Opens the series in the most appropriate layout in a new tab.
    • Open in screen: Opens the series in the most appropriate layout in a specific screen.
    • Add: Adds the series to the current patient’s layout if exists.