DICOM PS3.10 2025a - Media Storage and File Format for Media Interchange

A Example of DICOMDIR File Content (Informative)

This Annex provides an example of a File content that is based on selected aspects of the example introduced in PS3.3 for the Basic Directory Information Object. This is not a normative Annex. It is only an illustration, which is simply intended to help the reader better understand the organization of a DICOM Directory stored in a DICOMDIR File.

A.1 Simple Directory Content Example

Table A.1-1 shows in a simplified manner, the content of a simple DICOMDIR File. Values of elements are noted between square brackets (e.g., [1.2.840.10008.34.7.6]). Byte Offsets are shown by symbolic Values noted between brackets (e.g., {1493}).

Table A.1-1. Directory Content Example

Meta-Info

128 bytes

4 bytes

0002,0000

0002,0001

0002,0002

0002,0003

0002,0010

0002,0012

...

File Preamble [all bytes set to 00H]

DICOM Prefix [DICM]

File Meta Information Group Length

File Meta-Information Version [0001]

Media Storage SOP Class UID [1.2.840.10008.1.3.10]

Media Storage SOP Instance UID [1.2.840.23856.36.45.3]

Transfer Syntax UID [1.2.840.10008.1.1]

Implementation Class UID [1.2.840.23856.34.90.3]

...

File-set Identification

0004,1130

...

File-set ID [EXAMPLE] ...

General Directory Information

0004,1200

0004,1202

0004,1212

...

0004,1220

Offset of First Record of Root Directory Entity {1688}

Offset of Last Record of Root Directory Entity {6F18}

File-set Consistency Flag [0000H]

...

Directory Record Sequence.

This Data Element Value includes the following Sequence of Items.

{1688}

Item Tag

FFFE,E000

Item Data Element (includes the following Data Elements)

Patient A

Directory Record

0004,1400

0004,1410

0004,1420

...

Offset of the next Directory Record in Directory Entity {4624}

Record In-use Flag [FFFFH]

Offset of Referenced Lower Level Directory Entity {1828}

...

0004,1430

Directory Record Type [PATIENT]

Selection Keys

0010,0010

0010,0020

...

Patient's Name [Patient A]

Patient ID [123456789AB]

....

Item Delimitation Tag

FFFE,E00D

Item Delimitation Tag is present only if Item is of undefined length

{1828}

Item Tag

FFFE,E000

Item Data Element (includes the following Data Elements)

Study 1

Directory Record

0004,1400

0004,1410

0004,1420

...

Offset of the next Directory Record in Directory Entity (not shown in example)

Record In-use Flag [FFFFH]

Offset of Referenced Lower Level Directory Entity {2300}

...

0004,1430

Directory Record Type [STUDY]

Selection Keys

0020,000D

0020,0010

...

Study Instance UID [1.2.840.4656.23.4568745]

Study ID [srt78UJ]

....

Item Delimitation Tag

FFFE,E00D

Item Delimitation Tag is present only if Item is of undefined length

{2300}

Item Tag

FFFE,E000

Item Data Element (includes the following Data Elements)

Series 1

Directory Record

0004,1400

0004,1410

0004,1420

...

Offset of the next Directory Record in Directory Entity (not shown in example)

Record In-use Flag [0FFFFH]

Offset of Referenced Lower Level Directory Entity {2682}

...

0004,1430

Directory Record Type [SERIES]

Selection Keys

0008,0060

0020,0011

...

Modality [NM]

Series Number [2]

...

Item Delimitation Tag

FFFE,E00D

Item Delimitation Tag is present only if Item is of undefined length

{2682}

Item Tag

FFFE,E000

Item Data Element (includes the following Data Elements)

Image 1

Directory Record

0004,1400

0004,1410

0004,1420

...

Offset of the next Directory Record in Directory Entity {3420}

Record In-use Flag [FFFFH]

Offset of Referenced Lower Level Directory Entity [00000000H]

...

0004,1430

Directory Record Type [IMAGE]

0004,1500

0004,1510

0004,1511

0004,1512

Referenced File ID [DIR\TDRI\3856G3]

Referenced SOP Class UID in File [1.2.840.10008.5.1.4.1.1.20]

Referenced SOP Instance UID in File [1.2.840.34.56.78999654.234]

Referenced Transfer Syntax UID in File [1.2.840.10008.1.2.1]

Selection Keys

0008,0018

0020,0013

...

Image SOP Instance UID [1.2.840.34.56.78999654.234]

Image Number [1]

...

Item Delimitation Tag

FFFE,E00D

Item Delimitation Tag is present only if Item is of undefined length

{3420}

Item Tag

FFFE,E000

Item Data Element (includes the following Data Elements)

Image 2

Directory Record

0004,1400

0004,1410

0004,1420

...

Offset of the next Directory Record in Directory Entity [00000000H]

Record In-use Flag [FFFFH]

Offset of Referenced Lower Level Directory Entity [00000000H] ...

0004,1430

Directory Record Type [IMAGE]

0004,1500

0004,1510

0004,1511

0004,1512

Referenced File ID [DIR\TDRI\3856G7]

Referenced SOP Class UID in File [1.2.840.10008.5.1.4.1.1.20]

Referenced SOP Instance UID in File [1.2.840.34.56.78999654.235]

Referenced Transfer Syntax UID in File [1.2.840.10008.1.2.2]

Selection Keys

0008,0018

0020,0013

...

Image SOP Instance UID [1.2.840.34.56.78999654.235]

Image Number [2]

...

Item Delimitation Tag

FFFE,E00D

Item Delimitation Tag is present only if Item is of undefined length

{4624}

Item Tag

FFFE,E000

Item Data Element (includes the following Data Elements)

Patient B

Directory Record

0004,1400

0004,1410

0004,1420

...

Offset of the next Directory Record in Directory Entity {6F18}

Record In-use Flag [FFFFH]

Offset of Referenced Lower Level Directory Entity {5012}

...

0004,1430

Directory Record Type [PATIENT]

Selection Keys

0010,0010

0010,0020

...

Patient's Name [Patient B]

Patient ID [23456789ABC]

....

Item Delimitation Tag

FFFE,E00D

Item Delimitation Tag is present only if Item is of undefined length

{5012}

Item Tag

FFFE,E000

Item Data Element (includes the following Data Elements)

Study 1

Directory Record

...

...

(Sequence Items for the rest of the subordinate Directory Records)

{6F18}

Item Tag

FFFE,E000

Item Data Element (includes the following Data Elements)

Patient C

Directory Record

0004,1400

0004,1410

0004,1420

0004,1430

...

Offset of the next Directory Record in Directory Entity {00000000H}

Record In-use Flag [FFFFH]

Offset of Referenced Lower Level Directory Entity {...}

Directory Record Type [PATIENT]

...

Selection Keys

0010,0010

0010,0020

....

Patient Name [Patient C]

Patient ID [34567890ABC]

....

Item Delimitation Tag

FFFE,E00D

Item Delimitation Tag is present only if Item is of undefined length

Sequence Delimitation Tag

FFFE,E0DD

Used only if the Directory Record Sequence (0004,1220) is of undefined length to delimit the end of the Value of the Directory Record Sequence Data Element.

...

(Sequence Items for the rest of the subordinate Directory Records)


DICOM PS3.10 2025a - Media Storage and File Format for Media Interchange