The word DICOM stands for Digital Imaging & Communications in Medicine. DICOM Viewer is a modern software application introduced in the 1980s by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) for improved imaging facilities in the medical science.

How a DICOM Viewer works
DICOM Viewer performs its tasks by integrating different systems and then creating a combined communication system called Picture Archiving & Communication System (PACS) or PACS imaging software. Those systems or devices include different servers and hardware. The application views picture archives from the PACS system like X-ray, CAT scan, and MRI etc. It can be operated in different computer operating systems like Windows, Linux etc. The image format of DICOM Viewer is similar to the normal ‘jpeg’ format.

Options & Flexibility
This software has various options and lot of flexibility to use. Users can store the images in different ways. Images can be saved on hard drive or DVDs. Moreover, images can be stored on servers on the web. Further, it has another attractive option. Users can share the images online. It means a doctor or pathologist can consult about the images with any other partner residing anywhere around the world.

Cost Efficiency
DICOM is a cost efficient image communication system. It effectively reduces the costs of complicated imaging and display procedures. X-ray and other imaging technologies need costly and toxic chemicals to process the images and develop. Also the facilities of a dark room are required. These complications can easily be solved by using DICOM. It also reduces the storage cost and complicacy as mentioned earlier. As it can be used as normal computer application, the learning curve is no greater than what is required to use other software.

Popularity
This software is very popular and widely used in hospitals, health centers, diagnostic and imaging centers by doctors, pathologists and specialists. Specialists in the medical sector largely depend on it as it reduces the complexity of work and ensures better diagnosis. It also enhances professional skill. The DICOM Viewer provides the smarter imaging solution. It can store, handle, transport and print the images effectively which enhances the medical capability. Doctors can get reports, consult, exam and find solutions from the images produced from different imaging systems as they come together in an organized way.

The users has a wide range of options before them to choose a particular type of DICOM Viewer from various types. These are offered by different software companies. The types differ from one to another in their user options, style and facilities. There is also web based software which is used via internet. Some of them can be downloaded for free. So the users can go online and find a free software easily.

It should be mentioned that the DICOM Viewer is not an alternative to the imaging machines like X-ray, MRI or other types of scanner. Rather it is an assisting system for those devices. It increases the work strength and utility of those devices and enables to serve more organized and meaningful results.

Modern imaging systems received a gift through the invention of DICOM Viewers. Today, advanced diagnosis as well treatment cannot be imagined without this software. Without it, the medical science would have remained years behind the present world. Undoubtedly, it created a new era for diagnosing disease and curing the patient in a more modern way.