Importing Standard Tags to DICOM Files with pydicom

Discover how to efficiently import standard tags into DICOM files using the `pydicom` library. This guide provides a clear solution to handle data type mismatches when adding tags.
---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Import standard tags to a DICOM file with pydicom

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Importing Standard Tags to DICOM Files with pydicom: A Step-by-Step Guide

When working with medical imaging data, Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) files are crucial. These files contain a multitude of information about the imaging data and patient conditions. However, users often encounter challenges when trying to add new tags—especially when those tags must adhere to specific data types dictated by their Value Representation (VR).

In this guide, we will discuss how to effectively import standard tags into DICOM files using the pydicom library, particularly addressing the issue of type validation to prevent data type mismatches.

The Problem

A common scenario occurs when attempting to update DICOM files with new tags using a CSV file as a source for tag values. The user might face the following issues:

Tags are read from the CSV but may not align with the expected data types.

For instance, a date represented as 20231110 may be read as an integer, but DICOM requires this in string format for date tags.

Conversely, certain tags require integers, leading to potential casting errors.

The challenge here is ensuring each tag's value is in the correct format as expected by its associated VR.

Solution Overview

To tackle this challenge, we can create a robust function within our existing code that checks and casts the values based on their VR. Below, we outline the steps to implement this solution effectively.

Step 1: Define Casting Function

First, we need to create a function that checks the VR of each tag and returns the correctly typed value:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Update Tags in DICOM Files

Next, we update the main function that processes each DICOM file:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Handling Errors

By adjusting our warning settings and utilizing exceptions, we can ensure that our code gracefully handles potential casting errors:

Errors are printed with detailed information, allowing users to troubleshoot easily.

The warning system is reset after processing, ensuring we don’t lose visibility on future warnings.

Conclusion

Importing standard tags into DICOM files can be complicated, especially when it comes to ensuring data consistency among various tag types. By implementing a casting function that checks the expected VR and correctly formats the data, we can automate this process and minimize errors.

With these steps, you can confidently update your DICOM files while adhering to healthcare industry standards. pydicom provides a powerful framework for handling DICOM files, and with the right safeguards in place, your workflows will be more efficient and error-free.