DICOM PS3.17 2024d - Explanatory Information

K.5 Guidelines

This annex provides guidelines for implementation of the following aspects of Staged Protocol exams:

K.5.1 Staged Protocol Exam Identification

The Attributes Number of Stages (0008,2124) and Number of Views in Stage (0008,212A) are each Type 2C with the condition "Required if this image was acquired in a Staged Protocol." These two Attributes will be present with values in image SOP Instances if the exam meets the definition of a Staged Protocol Exam stated in Section K.3. This includes both the Protocol View images as well as any extra-Protocol images acquired during the Protocol Stages.

The Attributes Protocol Name (0018,1030) and Performed Protocol Code Sequence (0040,0260) identify the Protocol of a Staged Protocol Exam, but the mere presence of one or both of these Attributes does not in itself identify the acquisition as a Staged Protocol Exam. If both Protocol Name and Performed Protocol Code Sequence Attributes are present, the Protocol Name value takes precedence over the Performed Protocol Code Sequence Code Meaning value as a display label for the Protocol, since the Protocol Name would convey the institutional preference better than the standardized code meaning.

DICOM PS3.17 2024d - Explanatory Information