MedicalDataHandler, a research‐oriented graphical user interface for DICOM data management.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: MedicalDataHandler, a research‐oriented graphical user interface for DICOM data management.
Authors: Maniscalco, Austen1,2 (AUTHOR), Park, Yang Kyun1,2 (AUTHOR), Godley, Andrew1,2 (AUTHOR), Lin, Mu‐Han1,2 (AUTHOR), Jiang, Steve1,2 (AUTHOR), Nguyen, Dan1,2 (AUTHOR) Dan.Nguyen@UTSouthwestern.edu
Source: Medical Physics. Jan2026, Vol. 53 Issue 1, p1-12. 12p.
Subjects: Dicom (Computer network protocol), Data management, Descriptor systems, Cancer radiotherapy, Deep learning, Graphical user interfaces, Electronic data processing
Abstract: Background: Processing DICOM datasets for research and education is challenging due to the format's complexity and frequent patient‐specific workflow exceptions. Proper handling demands substantial technical expertise and meticulous care to ensure data fidelity in downstream applications. Purpose: We developed MedicalDataHandler to streamline the reading, visualization, and processing of DICOM data. By consolidating essential tasks into a user‐friendly environment, it minimizes reliance on advanced coding skills and promotes reproducible data handling without custom scripting. Methods: Implemented in Python with the third‐party Dear PyGui toolkit, MedicalDataHandler organizes DICOM files by patient identifiers and groups each patient's radiation therapy (RT) images, structure sets, plans, and doses based on mutual unique identifiers (UIDs). A comprehensive table of patient data enables metadata inspection, data visualization, and data processing. The GUI supports interactive visualization in axial, coronal, and sagittal views, with intuitive scrolling, zooming, panning, and window width/level adjustments. Segmentation labels, colors, and data orientation can be modified on the fly, and hovering over a voxel reveals its image/dose values and relevant segmented structures. Multithreading and multiprocessing enable rapid data reading and conversion to the deep‐learning‐friendly Nearly Raw Raster Data (NRRD) format. Additional features include metadata inspection, voxel grid resampling, Hounsfield‐Unit‐to‐Relative‐Electron‐Density mapping, plan‐sum dose creation, and partial or bulk data saving options. Results: We validated MedicalDataHandler with an end‐to‐end testing approach. DICOM data from 61 radiotherapy patients were processed, and the resulting dataset was used to train a deep‐learning‐based dose prediction model. MedicalDataHandler streamlined the workflow by eliminating the need for complex, patient‐specific code and accelerating the preparation of a research‐ready dataset. Conclusion: MedicalDataHandler streamlines DICOM data management and accelerates preprocessing, serving as a valuable tool for researchers and trainees. Its intuitive interface, flexible editing, and rapid data conversion empower a broader audience to manage DICOM data efficiently and consistently in research and education settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Medical Physics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 191010640
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: MedicalDataHandler, a research‐oriented graphical user interface for DICOM data management.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maniscalco%2C+Austen%22">Maniscalco, Austen</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Park%2C+Yang+Kyun%22">Park, Yang Kyun</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Godley%2C+Andrew%22">Godley, Andrew</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lin%2C+Mu‐Han%22">Lin, Mu‐Han</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jiang%2C+Steve%22">Jiang, Steve</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nguyen%2C+Dan%22">Nguyen, Dan</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> Dan.Nguyen@UTSouthwestern.edu</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Medical+Physics%22">Medical Physics</searchLink>. Jan2026, Vol. 53 Issue 1, p1-12. 12p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dicom+%28Computer+network+protocol%29%22">Dicom (Computer network protocol)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+management%22">Data management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptor+systems%22">Descriptor systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cancer+radiotherapy%22">Cancer radiotherapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Deep+learning%22">Deep learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graphical+user+interfaces%22">Graphical user interfaces</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electronic+data+processing%22">Electronic data processing</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Processing DICOM datasets for research and education is challenging due to the format's complexity and frequent patient‐specific workflow exceptions. Proper handling demands substantial technical expertise and meticulous care to ensure data fidelity in downstream applications. Purpose: We developed MedicalDataHandler to streamline the reading, visualization, and processing of DICOM data. By consolidating essential tasks into a user‐friendly environment, it minimizes reliance on advanced coding skills and promotes reproducible data handling without custom scripting. Methods: Implemented in Python with the third‐party Dear PyGui toolkit, MedicalDataHandler organizes DICOM files by patient identifiers and groups each patient's radiation therapy (RT) images, structure sets, plans, and doses based on mutual unique identifiers (UIDs). A comprehensive table of patient data enables metadata inspection, data visualization, and data processing. The GUI supports interactive visualization in axial, coronal, and sagittal views, with intuitive scrolling, zooming, panning, and window width/level adjustments. Segmentation labels, colors, and data orientation can be modified on the fly, and hovering over a voxel reveals its image/dose values and relevant segmented structures. Multithreading and multiprocessing enable rapid data reading and conversion to the deep‐learning‐friendly Nearly Raw Raster Data (NRRD) format. Additional features include metadata inspection, voxel grid resampling, Hounsfield‐Unit‐to‐Relative‐Electron‐Density mapping, plan‐sum dose creation, and partial or bulk data saving options. Results: We validated MedicalDataHandler with an end‐to‐end testing approach. DICOM data from 61 radiotherapy patients were processed, and the resulting dataset was used to train a deep‐learning‐based dose prediction model. MedicalDataHandler streamlined the workflow by eliminating the need for complex, patient‐specific code and accelerating the preparation of a research‐ready dataset. Conclusion: MedicalDataHandler streamlines DICOM data management and accelerates preprocessing, serving as a valuable tool for researchers and trainees. Its intuitive interface, flexible editing, and rapid data conversion empower a broader audience to manage DICOM data efficiently and consistently in research and education settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Medical Physics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=191010640
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/mp.70240
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Dicom (Computer network protocol)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data management
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptor systems
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cancer radiotherapy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Deep learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Graphical user interfaces
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electronic data processing
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: MedicalDataHandler, a research‐oriented graphical user interface for DICOM data management.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Maniscalco, Austen
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Park, Yang Kyun
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Godley, Andrew
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lin, Mu‐Han
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jiang, Steve
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Nguyen, Dan
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Text: Jan2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 00942405
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 53
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Medical Physics
              Type: main
ResultId 1