Can’t open your hospital CD or USB? Here’s what is on the disc — and what to do next
If the disc or thumb drive from imaging does not show normal photos, or a portal ZIP looks like a mess of folders, you probably have DICOM — the standard for medical images. That is expected. Below: quick steps to get your study onto your computer, then into DICOM Reader for a plain-English, informational summary (not a diagnosis).
- Insert or download the media (CD, USB, or patient-portal ZIP) and copy everything to a folder on your computer — e.g. Desktop or Documents.
- Unzip portal downloads before you upload; keep the whole folder structure.
- Find the study folder that contains many small files (often
.dcmor nested folders named likeDICOM). - Open dicom-reader.com, create a free account, and upload that entire folder — not one screenshot.
- Use the viewer and optional AI summary to orient yourself; write down questions for your doctor.
Safety: DICOM Reader is assistive software only. It does not provide a medical diagnosis and is not a substitute for a licensed radiologist or physician — including for urgent symptoms.
Why do hospitals give CDs or USB drives?
Imaging centers often release a copy of your raw study so you can bring it to another doctor, a surgeon, or a second facility. The media usually holds the complete study (many slices and series), not just the single “photo” you might imagine.
What are DICOM files?
DICOM is the standard format for medical imaging. Files often end in .dcm or sit inside nested folders. A CT or MRI can contain hundreds of files — that is expected.
- Patient portals may let you download a ZIP; unzip it before upload.
- macOS and Windows do not show DICOM nicely in the file browser; that does not mean the files are broken.
- Some discs include a viewer app; you do not need that app to use DICOM Reader in the browser.
How DICOM Reader uses your study
After you create an account at dicom-reader.com, you upload the folder that contains your DICOM files. The service reads the full study, lets you chat in plain English, and can generate a structured radiology-style write-up with frame-level citations so you can see what the model looked at.
Ready to upload your DICOM folder?
Create a free account and upload from CD, USB, or portal download — free to start.
Create a free account and upload your scanEducational / informational use only. See our FAQ and Terms.
Related reading
What is DICOM? — plain-English explainer · What does my report mean? — patient hub · Patient blog