MicroDicom DICOM Viewer

MicroDicom is a lightweight DICOM viewer for Windows that opens, converts and anonymises medical images, and it is aimed at anyone who needs to look at a patient CD or a folder of DICOM files without a PACS workstation. For dental offices, it is often the quickest way to open a CBCT scan or panoramic X-ray sent by a radiology centre. If you are here for a MicroDicom download, the details below cover versions, licence terms and what the viewer can and cannot do.

MicroDicom is developed by MicroDicom Ltd in Sofia, Bulgaria, and has been in development for more than 15 years. Versions are numbered by year; the current release, 2026.3 from June 2026, added 3D MPR and 3D volume rendering. The viewer is free for non-commercial (personal and educational) use; commercial or professional use requires a paid licence from the vendor.

MicroDicom at a glance

What it does

• Reads DICOM files from any manufacturer and modality, uncompressed or with RLE, JPEG lossy/lossless and JPEG 2000 compression, plus DICOMDIR patient lists from CDs.
• Window/level with presets, zoom, pan, rotate, flip, invert, and a DICOM tag browser.
• Measurements and annotations (distances, angles, regions of interest), with a calibration option.
• Multiplanar reconstruction, and since 2026.3 3D MPR with MIP, MinIP, average and slab thickness, plus 3D volume rendering.
• Export to JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, TIFF and WMF, and to video (AVI, WMV, MP4); copy to clipboard; JPEG-to-DICOM conversion.
• Anonymisation of DICOM images before sharing.
• PACS client functions with DICOMweb support, a local study database and printing.
• Portable ZIP editions, an autorun package for CD/DVD/USB, and an optional shell extension for DICOM previews in File Explorer.

How dental teams use it

Open a CBCT scan from a patient CD

1. Insert the CD or USB stick and choose File > Open, then select the DICOMDIR file or the folder containing the images.
2. Pick the CBCT series in the DICOM browser and scroll through the axial slices.
3. Switch to the MPR layout to see coronal and sagittal planes, or use 3D MPR with slab thickness to make thin structures easier to follow.
4. Use the distance tool for reference measurements; calibrate first if the image lacks pixel spacing data.

Send images to a colleague or lab

1. Anonymise the study so the patient’s name and ID are removed from the DICOM header.
2. Export the relevant slices to JPEG or PNG for e-mail, or export a scroll-through to MP4.

Compare two X-rays side by side

Load two studies (for example, a before and after panoramic image) and use the side-by-side layout to review them together during a case discussion.

Install and first run

• Windows: run the installer and follow the steps; the shell extension is optional. MicroDicom lists Windows Vista to Windows 11 (and some Windows Server versions) and needs about 14 MB of disk space.
• Portable: the x64 and x86 ZIP editions run without installation, which helps on locked-down clinic PCs.
• macOS: there is no native Mac version. MicroDicom supplies a Wine-based package and video guides for running the Windows program on macOS with Wine or CrossOver.
• Linux: not supported officially.
• Gotcha: if nothing appears after opening a CD, open the DICOMDIR file in the root of the disc instead of a single image; many dental CDs store the images several folders deep and list them only in the DICOMDIR.

Limitations

• MicroDicom states that it has no CE mark or FDA approval and must not be used for clinical purposes or to affect patient management.
• Commercial or professional use, which includes most private practices, needs a paid licence.
• Windows only; the macOS route depends on Wine.
• No dental-specific tools: no implant library, nerve tracing or tooth charting.
• 3D rendering arrived only in 2026.3 and is newer and simpler than in dedicated 3D suites.

MicroDicom vs alternatives

Weasis is a free, open-source viewer (EPL 2.0 / Apache 2.0) that also runs on macOS and Linux, which suits mixed-OS clinics. RadiAnt is a commercial Windows viewer with a similar role. On a Mac, OsiriX Lite is the demo of a certified viewer, and the JiveX DICOM Viewer is another Windows option. For STL export of bone surfaces, use 3DimViewer or MITK.

FAQ

Is MicroDicom viewer free?

Yes for non-commercial use: the vendor says it is free for personal and educational use. Professional or commercial use requires buying a licence.

Is there MicroDicom for Mac?

Not natively. MicroDicom is a Windows application, but the vendor provides a Wine-based macOS package and instructions for running it with Wine or CrossOver.

Does MicroDicom work on Windows 11, 10 or 7?

Yes. The official requirements list Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11, in 32-bit and 64-bit editions.

Is there a MicroDicom portable version?

Yes. The vendor offers portable x64 and x86 ZIP packages that run without installation, plus an autorun package for CD, DVD and USB.

Is MicroDicom FDA approved?

No. MicroDicom states that it has no CE mark, FDA approval or other medical-device approval and must not be used for clinical purposes.

Is MicroDicom open source?

No. It is proprietary software distributed under the vendor’s EULA. Weasis is an open-source alternative.

MicroDicom vs Weasis: which is better?

MicroDicom is a small native Windows program that is quick to install and use. Weasis is open source and cross-platform, so it fits clinics that also use Macs or Linux.

How to use MicroDicom?

Open a DICOMDIR file or a folder of images with File > Open, pick a series, then use the toolbar for window/level, measurements and export. The vendor’s user manual and video tutorials cover each tool.

Last checked against official sources: 28 September 2026 (developer website: microdicom.com). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in a clinic.