Metadata/DICOM Working Group
Goal
The goal of the Metadata/DICOM Working Group is to promote the adoption of the internationally recognized DICOM standard for use in dermatology by developing consensus standards, disseminating these standards, and encouraging adoption. Standardized collection and representation of the images and metadata associated with an image positively impacts the usefulness and interoperability of the images.
The DICOM Dermatology Working Group will progressively develop supplements to the general DICOM standard for dermoscopy, cutaneous confocal microscopy, and total body photography.
Further, we aim to develop Structured Report for standardized results generation of melanoma screening, lesion tracking and the reporting of AI image classification.
Accomplishments
DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) standards are used across most medical specialties, but at the time of initiation of ISIC there was no active DICOM working group for dermatology. In 2019, under the leadership of the ISIC Metadata/DICOM Working Group and in partnership with the International Dermoscopy Society activated a DICOM Working Group for dermatology.
In December 2020, the DICOM Dermatology Working Group’s supplement for dermoscopy was approved and published by the DICOM Standards Committee
The DICOM Dermatology Working has developed supplement for in-vivo and ex-vivo cutaneous confocal microscopy. This supplement has passed the public comment stage, and it is anticipated it will be published in late 2023.
Goal
The goal of the Metadata/DICOM Working Group is to promote the adoption of the internationally recognized DICOM standard for use in dermatology by developing consensus standards, disseminating these standards, and encouraging adoption. Standardized collection and representation of the images and metadata associated with an image positively impacts the usefulness and interoperability of the images.
The DICOM Dermatology Working Group will progressively develop supplements to the general DICOM standard for dermoscopy, cutaneous confocal microscopy, and total body photography.
Further, we aim to develop Structured Report for standardized results generation of melanoma screening, lesion tracking and the reporting of AI image classification.
Accomplishments
DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) standards are used across most medical specialties, but at the time of initiation of ISIC there was no active DICOM working group for dermatology. In 2019, under the leadership of the ISIC Metadata/DICOM Working group and in partnership with the International Dermoscopy Society activated a DICOM working group for dermatology.
The DICOM dermatology working group will progressively develop supplements to the general DICOM standard for dermoscopy, total body photography, and reflectance confocal microscopy imaging. In November 2020, the group's Dermoscopy Supplement was approved and published by the DICOM Standards committee.
Leader
Liam Caffery, PhD
The University of Queensland
Brisbane, Australia
Working Group Members
Leader
Liam Caffery, PhD
The University of Queensland
Brisbane, Australia
Working Group Members
Next Steps
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Continue promoting the use of DICOM for dermatology through conference presentation, publications, social media, and professional societies.
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Publish the supplement for cutaneous confocal microscopy.
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Begin drafting a supplement for whole-body/3D skin imaging.
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Contribute to DICOM efforts informing the management of sensitive images.