Getting DICOM images for follow-up abroad

Ask what the receiving team needs

Send the receiving hospital your examination dates and imaging report, then ask which studies and series it needs and how to deliver them. A report PDF, a phone screenshot and a complete imaging study serve different purposes. Ask the radiology department for the requested DICOM files and the corresponding report, using an export method accepted by both hospitals.

Check cloud access and file export

A QR code does not automatically mean low-quality JPEG images. Some hospital cloud services provide complete DICOM data. However, viewing images in a browser does not establish that you can download the files or that another hospital can import them. Confirm download permissions, link expiry, login requirements and access from the destination. If using a DICOM media file-set, ask whether it includes DICOMDIR and the referenced image files. Keep the folder structure intact.

Test the handover

• Check the patient identity, examination date, body part and requested series.
• Ask the receiving team to confirm that the files open and meet its requirements.
• Use the hospital’s approved transfer channel.
• Do not assume compressed DICOM is unusable: DICOM supports lossless compression. Ask about compatibility rather than demanding one format for every case.

Official sources

• Beijing Health Commission: Beijing Hospital of TCM cloud imaging
• Shanghai digital medical imaging quality-control standard
• DICOM PS3.10: DICOMDIR
• DICOM PS3.5: Lossless JPEG compression

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