The ROIDistanceUnits COM/.NET method of a DicomLabel COM/.NET varies according to the attribute used to obtain the scaling information, for which there are 5 possibilities

. Normally only one of these should be present, but should there be >1 then the first in this list is used. In all cases of course, the values returned by other ROI functions (ROILength COM/.NET etc.) are in matching units.

Contents

• Region-specific calibration
• True size
• Projection Images
• Image Plane
• Pixels

Region-specific calibration

This is found in some ultrasound images, giving different calibration for different regions of the image. A measurement which fits entirely with one such region is returned either as “mm” or, if the units are not appropriate, or if crosses regions, then the returned value will be “pixels”

True size

This is commonly used in CT, MR and US, being derived from DICOM attribute 0028,0030, giving a measurement in “mm”

Projection Images

This applies to all forms of projection imaging (plain films, angiography etc.) which suffer from the effects of geometric magnification. In this case, the true size of an object cannot be known, only the size of its shadow on the imaging system (plate/sensor), and the result is then “mm at imager”. The associated DICOM attribute is 0018,1164.

Image Plane

This is only used in radiotherapy, where (unlike diagnostic films) there is a defined “Image Plane” within the irradiated volume. In this case the spacing comes from DICOM attribute 3002,0011 and the units are returned as “mm at Imaging Plane”

Pixels

If none of the above attributes are present in the image, then measurements may only be made in “pixels”