The print_header program reads information from the header of an image (if the
header exists) and extracts useful information to help you understand
your data.
print_header can usually read headers for the following data types:
- GE Signa (This is usually old data.)
- Siemens Somatom
- GE Genesis (Slicer was originally designed for this type of data,
but has been expanded to accommodate other formats.)
- DICOM (Slicer can usually read DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) data directly. However, since
DICOM is such a complicated specification, not all DICOM data will be readable in
Slicer.)
-
print_header can read data in compressed (.gz or .Z) format as well as
uncompressed.
To run print_header, type (for an image called I.001):
The print_header program will print output like this:
print_header V1.0
ENTRY AND POSITION ARE 1 1
input_prefix = I
output_prefix =
suffix = <none>
filename_format = %s.%03d
patient_name = mrsmith
patient_sex = F
date = 8/25/93
time_hr_min_sec = 07:01:32
study_desc = *SPL*LINOMIDE
series_desc = *SPL*FILTER(2d2chan)
hospital_name = BRIGHAM WOMENS HARVARD BAY 2
patient_id = 12345678
exam_modality = MR
image_type_text = genesis
image_type = N/A
sop_instance_uid = N/A
image_time = N/A
manufacturer = N/A
referring_physician =
physician_reading_study = N/A
manufacturers_model_name = Ü
anatomic_structure = N/A
birth_date = N/A
weight = N/A
body_part_examined = N/A
repetition_time = N/A
echo_time = N/A
inversion_time = N/A
reconstruction_diameter = N/A
generator_power = N/A
series_in_study = N/A
images_in_acquisition = N/A
rescale_intercept = N/A
rescale_slope = N/A
requested_proc_desc = N/A
patient_age = 36
x_resolution = 256
y_resolution = 256
bytes_per_slice = 131072
header_size = 7900
slice_number = 1
image_type_num = 2
byte_order = 0
status = 1
number_echoes = 2
echo_number = 1
compressed = 0
first_slice = 1
last_slice = 1
num_missing = 0
bytes_per_pixel = 2
num_bytes_data = 131072
num_bytes_header = 7900
bits_stored = 65535
high_bit = 65535
bits_allocated = 65535
patient_position = HFS
patient_orientation = N/A
number_of_slices = 1
exam_number = 56168
series_number = 1
gantry_tilt = 0.100000
pixel_xsize = 0.937500
pixel_ysize = 0.937500
fov = 240.000000
aspect = 3.200000
thick = 3.000000
space = 0.000000
image_location = -20.000000
coord_center_r = 0.000000
coord_center_a = 0.000000
coord_center_s = -65.000000
coord_normal_r = 0.000000
coord_normal_a = 0.000000
coord_normal_s = 1.000000
coord_r_top_left = 120.000000
coord_a_top_left = 120.000000
coord_s_top_left = -65.000000
coord_r_top_right = -120.000000
coord_a_top_right = 120.000000
coord_s_top_right = -65.000000
coord_r_bottom_right = -120.000000
coord_a_bottom_right = -120.000000
coord_s_bottom_right = -65.000000
imagepositionpatient = 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000
imageorientationpatient = 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000
There are several things to note about the output of print_header:
- The information may not be correct, and will be inaccurate if you change
the images without changing the headers.
- Not all of the parameters have meaning for all datatypes.