American Society of Radiologic Technologist (ASRT) Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

DICOM stands for Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine. This standard is critical in the field of medical imaging as it ensures the interoperability of medical imaging equipment and the sharing of images and related information across different systems and devices. By establishing a universal framework, DICOM facilitates the seamless exchange of medical images, such as X-rays and MRIs, between various imaging machines and healthcare software systems. This standardization encompasses image file formats, communication protocols, and how the information is structured.

In addition to supporting the transmission and storage of medical images, DICOM also includes metadata that provides essential context about the images, such as patient information, imaging parameters, and study details. This enables healthcare providers to access and interpret imaging data efficiently and accurately within diverse healthcare settings. The other options do not accurately reflect what DICOM stands for and thus do not encapsulate its crucial role in medical imaging communication.