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 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.