Query regarding DICOM (0018,700A) Detector ID

31 views

Skip to first unread message

Andrew Chaffer

unread,

Jan 14, 2025, 5:08:59 AMJan 14

to DICOM Forum

Hi,

I have a query regarding the detector ID displayed in header files of some Samsung detectors.

Samsung S-Detector | Samsung Healthcare Global

In other detectors I have used the DICOM (0018,700A) Detector ID field gives a unique serial number for each detector. This is useful as it allows the detector a clinical image has been taken on to be uniquely identified which can be very useful if there are issues such as artefacts seen on clinical images.

The Samsung detectors have a 25 digit serial number of which only the trailing 6 or 7 characters vary between individual detectors.

The DICOM standard defines the attribute as a short string as being 16 characters in length and so the DICOM header only displays the non-unique first 16 digits of the detector serial number.

For example the detectors with serial numbers:

KR14M19003952ADWCYR890005 and KR14M19003952ADWCYR890006

Both display KR14MI9003952ADW in the DICOM header which means it doesn't uniquely ID the detector.

There does not seem to be any requirement that I can see in the DICOM standard that this attribute must give a value that uniquely identifies the detector but I struggle to see the purpose of the attribute if it does not do this.

I wondered if you are aware of any mechanism to suggest that the data type for this attribute is changed to allow for serial numbers longer than 16 characters to be uniquely represented. Alternatively a requirement in the standard that this attribute must uniquely identify the detector would have the same effect.

Thanks,

Andy.

David Clunie

unread,

Jan 14, 2025, 10:01:25 AMJan 14

to DICOM Forum

Good point ... we could perhaps re-use X-Ray Detector ID (0018,9371) which is UC, since we cannot change the VR of an existing data element - I will submit a CP on the subject.