FAQ

How exactly does my DICOM data get used and processed?

When you import a DICOM file for use in our website, it gets processed on your computer only (i.e. DICOM data does not get sent to our servers). The images and localization data are extracted and are converted to a custom format we have developed. Should you actually end up saving the case, this custom file (containing only the images and localization data) will be sent to our servers for storage.

We do use some DICOM header information for the automatically generated display names of the studies and series. The DICOM headers we use are exclusively limited to the study name (e.g. "MRI BRAIN W WO CONTRAST"), series number and name (e.g. "1 - FLAIR Ax"), and an anonymized study date (the study date plus or minus a random amount of time between 0 and 10 years, which changes with each session). You can change the displayed study names and series names at any time manually. We believe this level of usage would result in no usage of protected health information (provided that your DICOM file does not contain such information in the study name or series names).

Note that this does not protect against cases where protected health information is actually imprinted on the images (as happens frequently in Ultrasound images, X-rays and saved key images of cross-sectional images). It is your responsibility to ensure the images you use are free from any PHI imprinted on them (or to not use/save the individual series where this might be the case).

Should I anonymize my DICOM data before importing to your website?

In general, there is no need to anonymize DICOMs first because we only process your DICOM files locally and do not store your DICOM files but rather the DICOM images converted to our custom format. We use a few DICOM headers to generate default study names and series names (specifically, the DICOM study name, anonymized study date, series number, and series name) which in our experience, do not contain protected health information (PHI). You can even change the default study or series names to any other name using our case editor. Because of these, you do not gain anything as far as protecting PHI by anonymizing first.

That being said, it is always prudent to anonymize DICOM files first before you import them to a website. We recommend RSNA's excellent DicomAnonymizerTool. If you do not like having to install Java and using the command line, you can also try the MicroDicom viewer which has an anonymization feature, although MicroDicom's anonymization is very strict, eliminating all series names and numbers for instance.

How can I embed a DicomTube case in my own website?

Embedding a DicomTube case in your own website is very simple. All you need to do is copy the embed code from the case page and paste it into your website. The embed code is available from the "More Options" menu () right after and to the right of the case title in the main case page. In general, to embed a case, use an iframe with the src attribute set to a URL in the form of https://dicomtube.com/embed/case/CASE_ID where CASE_ID is the ID of the case (the same ID you see in the case URL).

What happens to a pending case if I never publish it?

If a case is in pending state without publication for more than 14 days, we reserve the right to delete it, unless you have a Premium Membership with us. Pending cases will not be deleted if you have a Premium Membership.

I published a case but now want to make changes.

You can go to the Uploads section of your account and select the published case you want to edit and make any changes you want. Changes you make to the title, modality, and body part will be applied to the published version of the case when you hit "save". Any other changes will be saved separately and not automatically applied (e.g. if you record a new narration or change the description). To apply these changes to the published version of the case, you will need to hit "publish" again and they will be applied to the published version of the case.

What additional capabilities will I receive if I purchase a Premium Subscription?

As a Premium member, you will receive the following capabilities:

• Ability to create secure private cases. These cases can by default be only seen by you and their associated files are all in a private strictly access restricted storage system.
• Ability to add these cases to your own private playlists.
• Ability to securely share access to either individual cases or entire playlists with others via secure share links. You get to create as many share links as you like, set up automatic expiration dates, or delete them altogether.

How can I cancel my subscription?

You can cancel your subscription at any time by going to your account dashboard and clicking the Manage Subscription quick action which will take you to the Stripe portal where you can cancel your subscription (the portal can be reached via this link as well). You will continue to have access to your Premium features until the end of your current billing period. We do not provide a refund for subscription periods that have already been paid for.

Is there a trial period? Can I get a refund if I change my mind about membership?

There is no trial period for Premium Membership. DicomTube is an open and free platform for sharing public cases and aside from access restriction, there is no difference in how private cases are made or displayed compared to public cases. You should experiment with public case upload and available DicomTube features before deciding to purchase a Premium Subscription.

You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings. You will continue to have access to your Premium features until the end of your current billing period. We do not provide a refund for subscription periods that have already been paid for.

Since private cases cannot be viewed by others, is it ok if I include some protected health information?

Absolutely NOT! DicomTube does not meet the strict legal requirements to be considered a HIPAA compliant website and therefore, any sharing of protected health information (PHI) is strictly prohibited, in both public and private cases.

How do I check my storage usage?

At this time, there is no automatic way to check your storage usage and storage limits are not enforced. You may contact us directly to inquire about your usage. To provide you with a frame of reference, as of January 2026, DicomTube has just over 2,500 public cases which all together use about 57 GB of storage. Your 100 GB limit for private cases will go a long way!

We will contact you directly if you approach your storage limit.

What happens to my private cases when my premium subscription expires?

When your premium subscription expires, all your private cases and share links will be deleted, although we will provide you with a 7 day grace period during which you will continue to be able to see your own private cases. You will not be able to modify them or make new share links. After the grace period, we reserve the right to delete your private cases at our discretion.

Can I change the compression level of the images in my private cases or choose loss-less compression?

At this time, there is no option in the user interface to do so but this feature is in our list of features to implement. The compression settings we use, in our opinion, is a good balance between quality and size and keeps the images of diagnostic quality. Please feel free to contact us if you would like the ability to change the compression settings and we will prioritize this feature based on interest.