Customized DICOM fields: Concepts

To create customized DICOM fields for use in demographic layouts, you require information from the DICOM header file. To retrieve this information, run the ddo_print utility to view information in the header file.

The DICOM header file reserves an area where private elements are listed. Private elements have odd group numbers, so they can be recognized as private. The element numbers, with one exception, start with the digit 1. This is significant when you configure a private element as an available demographic overlay.

The first private element listed has a name called private creator. A ddo_print of the DICOM file might look like the following:

Group	Element	Length	Description	VR	VM	Value
0045	0010	12	private_creator	LO	1	"GEMS_SENO_O2"
0045	101B	14	unknown element	LO		"left lateral"
0045	1020	2	unknown element	DS		"0"
0045	1062	12	unknown element	IS		"8381"

The first listing in the private portion of the header lists the creator (0045,0010). Note, however, that all subsequent element numbers start with the number 1 (0045,101b). The 1 in the first digit denotes that these elements are private, and not available as default demographic overlay fields.