How to query a PACS server using DCMTK library

Hello Friends,

Well, this is my first ever blog and I am posting about how to make a query on a PACS server. PACS stands for Picture Archiving and Communication System. A PACS is a medical imaging technology which provides economical storage of, and convenient access to, images from multiple modalities (source machine types). PACS network is used to transfer and receive DICOM images. DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) is standard for storing, handling, printing and transmitting information in medical imaging. It includes a file format definition and a network communication protocol.

Now coming to the point, how to query on a PACS server. For this, we need a client and client can be developed using DCMTK library. DCMTK is a collection of libraries and applications implementing large parts of the DICOM standard. It includes software for examining, construction and conversion of DICOM images files, handling offline media, sending and receiving images over a network communication, as well as demonstrative image storage and worklist servers. DCMTK is written in a mixture of ANSI C and C++. It comes in complete source codes and is made available as open source software.

So, here we start. I will stick to Windows OS, though it can be developed in Linux also.

• Download CONQUEST DICOM Server. It acts as a PACS Server on localhost.
• DCMTK needs to be compiled with a C++ compiler. For Windows, compatible compiler is Microsoft Visual C++. So download MS Visual Studio 2010 (or higher) and install it.
• You will be needing a cross-platform binary builder to generate the binaries from DCMTK source code. For this, download and install CMake. Its an open source software.
• Download the DCMTK 3.6.0 source code here.
• Run the CMake-gui and generate the binaries to a destination folder.
• Open MS VC++ in 'Administrator' mode and open the file ALL BUILD project file in the folder you specified in CMake destination folder.
• It will open around 82 project in Solution Explorer tab (in LHS of IDE). Right Click the first project 'ALL BUILD' and build it. It will take a considerable amount of time. :D
• After building, build the project named 'INSTALL'. This will make a new folder and install some directories in C:/Program Files/DCMTK (for 32-bit Win).
• VOILA!! DCMTK LIBRARY IS NOW CONFIGURED.

If I go on like this, you will definitely won't read it till the last. Its a bit exhaustive. So, I am gonna provide you a pdf file specifying everything about how to make a query. Right click on this link and select 'Save link as'. Header file (testscu.h) and source file (testdcmscu.cpp) can also be downloaded.

Thank You!

If you have any queries or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at ahirnish@gmail.com