DICOM vs. JPEG: why the format matters in veterinary radiology

When you send an imaging study for interpretation, the format matters as much as the image itself. The difference between DICOM and a simple JPEG can be the difference between a correct diagnosis and a limited interpretation.

What you lose with a JPEG

• Bit depth: DICOM keeps thousands of grey levels; JPEG compresses them to 256, losing fine tissue contrast.
• Metadata: DICOM carries patient, modality, acquisition and orientation data — essential for interpretation.
• Windowing: the radiologist adjusts contrast (window/level) only with the original data, not a screenshot.

Our recommendation

Always send the original DICOM files, not screenshots or photos of the monitor. Doktalo accepts DICOM and ZIP archives and includes a viewer that preserves all diagnostic information — exactly as acquired.