During the 2009 Annual Convention, the AIUM held an important course titled Sharing the Wealth: Status Report on the DICOM 3-Dimensional Ultrasound Data Standard.

The 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound standard, officially known as DICOM Supplement 43: Storage of 3D Ultrasound Images, is the work of a group from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) called Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) Standards Committee Working Group 12 (WG-12). The standard aims to create a universal format for 3D ultrasound images (and the 2D images derived from them) so that they can be read and transmitted between all picture archiving and communications system (PACS) workstations.

Adoption of the standard by manufacturers will greatly improve the flow of images between necessary parties. It will make it easier for sonographers, radiologists, and physicians to compare images from prior scans and different modalities. This combination of advancements will improve patient care significantly in the 3D imaging community.

Three-dimensional imaging has become extremely useful and prevalent in medical imaging, yet many PACS workstations are not able to handle or transmit 3D ultrasound image data effectively. Approximately 99% of ultrasound machines are DICOM compliant for 2D ultrasound but not 3D ultrasound; thus, many PACS workstations have trouble supporting 3D ultrasound images.

At the present time, DICOM Supplement 43 has been approved by the DICOM Committee and is in its final stage of text revision and printing for release later this summer. The next step is for ultrasound and PACS vendors to begin implementation of the standard. Initial work is under way among several groups. As vendor and user awareness and demand increase, there will be more resources committed to implementation. Once a critical mass has been reached, then widespread adoption and integration of the standard will occur.