dcm_validate

The dcm_validate repository serves as a centralized collection of all dcm_qa repositories. Each dcm_qa repository provides concise, illustrative examples of specific DICOM image file features. This repository acts as an index, bringing together these independent modules for easier access and management.

Installation

To clone this repository and initialize all submodules, use the following commands:

git clone --recursive https://github.com/neurolabusc/dcm_validate.git

Creating a Catalog Table for DICOM series

The included Python script catalog_dicoms.py recursively scans a folder for DICOM files and generates a CSV table summarizing the value of a specified DICOM tag. Since a single DICOM series typically consists of multiple files, the script includes only one representative file per series, determined by the SeriesInstanceUID (0020,000E).

Note that some DICOM attributes may vary across files within the same series. This script reports the value from the first file encountered per series. You can modify the script to suit custom requirements, or alternatively use tools like dcmdump or gdcmdump for more advanced queries.

An example usage to list the manufacturer (0008,0070) for each series:

python catalog_dicoms.py ./dcm_qa 0008,0070)

Creating a Catalog Table for BIDS JSON images

The included Python script catalog_datasets.py helps identify imaging series that match specific criteria. For instance, you can list properties such as Manufacturer, BodyPart, PatientAge, and EchoTime for each series. Since there are many available properties, the script is designed to be run twice: the first run generates a catalog_fields.txt file listing all possible properties. You can then edit this file to retain only the fields of interest. Re-running the script will generate a table saved as a comma-separated values (CSV) file. To reset and list all properties again, simply delete the catalog_fields.txt file.

python catalog_datasets.py
# Generating field list file: catalog_fields.txt
# Edit the field list and re-run this script, or use --fields option.
python catalog_datasets.py

Catalog

Below is a comprehensive list of the included repositories. The Manufacturer refers to Canon (C), General Electric (G), Philips (P), Siemens (S), and United Imaging Healthcare (U).

Repository Name	Manufacturer	Comments
dcm_qa	S	Image orientation, total readout time, multi-band, JPEG2000
dcm_qa_12bit	S	12-bit signed and unsigned voxel intensities
dcm_qa_agfa	S	Renaming of private tags
dcm_qa_asl	S	Arterial spin labeling
dcm_qa_canon	C	Canon 6.0 classic DICOM images
dcm_qa_canon_61	C	Canon 6.1 images saved as enhanced and classic DICOM
dcm_qa_canon_enh	C	Canon 6.0 enhanced DICOM images
dcm_qa_cs_dl	G, P, S	Compressed Sensing (CS) and the Deep Learning filters
dcm_qa_ct	G, P	Computerized Axial Tomography with gantry tilt and varied inter-slice dx
dcm_qa_decubitus	S	Head first decubitus images
dcm_qa_decubitus_ge	G	Head first decubitus image
dcm_qa_deident	S	De-identification method parameters
dcm_qa_dti	S	Diffusion directions with various slice angulations
dcm_qa_enh	C, P, S	Enhanced DICOM
dcm_qa_fmap	G, S	Field mapping
dcm_qa_ge	G	Slice timing, acquisition acceleration
dcm_qa_me	S	Multi-echo sequences
dcm_qa_mosaic	S	Mosaic images with recommended and deprecated image numbering
dcm_qa_mprage	S	Magnetization Prepared - RApid Gradient Echo sequences
dcm_qa_nih	G, S	Phase encoding polarity
dcm_qa_pdt2	S	Proton-Density and T2-weighted imaging
dcm_qa_philips	P	Philips classic and enhanced DICOMs
dcm_qa_philips_asl	P	Philips classic DICOM arterial spin labeling
dcm_qa_philips_asl_enh	P	Philips enhanced DICOM arterial spin labeling
dcm_qa_philips_dwi	P	Philips diffusion-weighted imaging with unusual volume ordering
dcm_qa_philips_enh	P	Philips enhanced DICOM
dcm_qa_polar	G	GE reversed phase encoding polarity
dcm_qa_sag	S	Sagittal diffusion images
dcm_qa_stc	G, S, U	Slice timing correction
dcm_qa_table	G, P, S	Tracking table position
dcm_qa_toshiba	C	Toshiba 5.0 classic DICOMs
dcm_qa_trt	G	Total Readout Time
dcm_qa_ts	S	Various DICOM transfer syntaxes
dcm_qa_uih	U	United Imaging Healthcare ("UIH") MRI scanners
dcm_qa_xa30	S	Siemens XA30 enhanced DICOMs
dcm_qa_xa30i	S	Siemens XA30 classic (interoperability) DICOM

Duplicate Archives

The latest version of this repository is stored on Github. For long-term access and reproducibility, persistent snapshots are archived on both Zenodo and the Open Science Framework. Please use the Issues functionality on Github to suggest enhancements.