As a DICOM file is being loaded, the ImageGear Medical associates some additional structures with it. DICOM Data Elements are stored into two separate chunks: a table of Data Elements, which holds those Data Elements that make up the core of the image file, and a Part 10 Template, which holds the Data Elements from the Part 10 Header. The Part 10 Header is kept separate due to some of its special characteristics.

The table of Data Elements is internal and is only accessible via the API functions provided by this component. You can remove it (and free its memory), or create a new table if it does not exist. The names of the API functions that allow you to access the data in the internal Data Set table all start with MED_DCM_DS_ .

We refer to the Part 10 Header area as a "template" because it should be created for every loaded DICOM image, even if the image's Data Set is empty. This template always contains the same set of storage fields for Data Elements-even if the Part 10 Header of the loaded image has no value for them. Further on in this section you will find information on how to get and set Part 10 Header values.

The Part 10 Template cannot be removed. However, as you are saving the image you can choose not to save it as "Part 10-compliant" and the image will be saved without this header.