Welcome to a unique blog post, where we delve deep into one of the most compelling episodes of SIIMcast— the official podcast of the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM). The episode features a star-studded panel of experts discussing the future of DICOMweb and its implications on medical imaging. If this episode intrigued you (and it should), consider this post a guided tour through its salient points.

SIIMCast 37: Standards: DICOMweb

The Evolution of Medical Imaging and DICOMweb

It's undeniable that as medical imaging technology progresses, so too will DICOMweb. Initially a format for describing different types of data, DICOMweb has expanded its repertoire but hasn't entirely solved the puzzle of clinical workflows. The key message here? DICOMweb will continue to focus on what it excels at: image management. It will be the go-to for storing, querying, and retrieving imaging data while gradually incorporating web standards 

Bridging Gaps and Missing Links

While DICOMweb is lauded for its capabilities in image management, there are areas for growth. For instance, it currently lacks support for "Storage Commit," a feature available in classic DICOM that guarantees the safekeeping of transferred data. However, exciting work is underway, led by Jeroen Medema and DICOM Working Group 27, to integrate Storage Commitment services in DICOMweb. The absence of support for 3D presentation states is another lacuna that experts recommend filling.

RESTful Services and Everyday Examples

One of the unique elements in the discussion was RESTful services in DICOMweb. For the uninitiated, RESTful services simplify interactions with resources in a network, much like Google's OAuth system allows for secure yet simple authentication. The lack of such services in DICOMweb has significant implications for storage commitment. The good news is that the integration of RESTful storage commitment is under consideration to ensure that DICOMweb can be deployed properly, covering scenarios like medical enterprises storing data in cloud PACS/VNA without traditional DICOM solutions.

Keeping the Core, While Innovating

While there’s talk of extending DICOMweb, there's consensus that it should remain true to its roots. The committee behind DICOMweb leans toward incremental evolution rather than revolutionary change, a stance aimed at preserving the core of what makes DICOM so effective.

A Journey More Than a Destination

The episode underscored that the trajectory of DICOMweb is intrinsically linked to the broader evolution of medical imaging. Therefore, it remains a moving target, with its future resting on how imaging technology develops in the coming years.

A few final comments as we close out this high-level review:

•  I recommend downloading the DICOMweb cheat sheet provided by the DICOM standard. 

• Different services make up the DICOMweb family, such as WADO-RS, STOW-RS, QIDO-RS, and UPS-RS. 

  
  

To soak up these insights in their full depth, we highly recommend checking out the episode in question. And once again, our gratitude goes out to our SIIMcast guests for their invaluable contributions. Their expertise has illuminated corners of the DICOMweb universe that many of us didn't even know existed. 

Keep an eye (or an ear) out for the next episode—this is a field that's always evolving, and you won't want to miss what comes next!

Thx,

J