DICOM Annotation Files

A DICOM data set can store up to 256 annotation files as private data. The annotation files may be single page or multi-page. These annotations can be in either the LEAD native format or a binary encoded format. For working with the annotation files, LEAD provides the following:

To load an annotation file from a DICOM data set, use the AnnLoad method. This method updates the AnnContainer property with the root container of the loaded annotations.

The AnnCount method retrieves information about the annotation files stored in a DICOM data set. This method provides information on which, of the 256 positions within the DICOM data set, contain annotation files and, if desired, the appropriate private creator tag. This property updates the AnnEntries property and the AnnPrivateCreatorTag property.

The AnnDelete method can be used to delete a page from an annotation file, delete an entire annotation file, or delete all annotation files stored in a DICOM data set.

To save annotations as private data within a DICOM data set, use the AnnSave method. This method saves the annotations referenced by the container object in the AnnContainer property. If a private creator tag has been set in the AnnPrivateCreatorTag property, AnnSave will use this tag when saving the annotations.

Annotations can be manipulated using the LEADTOOLS Annotation functions, available in selected products. For information on the LEAD product line, refer to Topic Selection. For more information on the Annotation functions, refer to the LEADTOOLS Main COM Object Help File. (Ltcomn.chm in the LEAD\Help directory.

Please note that both the DICOM capabilities and the DOCUMENT capabilities must be unlocked in order to work with DICOM annotations. For more information on unlocking these capabilities, refer to UnlockSupport.