Clinics hand out CT, MRI, and X-ray images as DICOM files that won't open on a normal computer. See what a DCM file contains, how to convert your scans to PDF in seconds, and when you need a full DICOM viewer instead.
How to Convert DICOM to PDF for Free
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1 Upload
Choose the DCM file you want to convert and upload it to our DICOM to PDF converter. -
2 Start processing
The converter decodes the medical image and turns it into a PDF in seconds. A multi-frame scan becomes a PDF with one page per frame. -
3 Download
Download the finished PDF and save it to your device. Uploaded files are removed from our servers automatically.
Open DICOM Files Without a Viewer
DICOM is the format hospitals and imaging centers use for CT, MRI, ultrasound, and X-ray scans. Without specialized viewer software, a DCM file simply will not open. Converting it to PDF makes the scan viewable on any computer, tablet, or phone, which is handy when a clinic hands you your images on a disc.
True to the Original Scan
The converter reads the pixel data stored in the DICOM file and applies the brightness and contrast settings saved by the imaging device, so the PDF matches the original presentation. Compressed DICOM files, including JPEG, JPEG 2000, JPEG-LS, and RLE, are decoded automatically.
256-bit SSL Encryption
The safety of your data is our top priority. All uploaded files are protected with 256-bit SSL encryption during transfer, so unauthorized third parties cannot access your documents. We never sell or share your information.
Files Are Deleted Automatically
Medical images deserve extra care. After converting a DICOM file, you have a three-hour window to download the PDF. Once that time passes, the files are removed from our servers automatically, keeping your scans and any patient information they contain private.
Works on Any Device
The conversion runs in your browser, so you can convert DCM files from Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, or Android. There is no DICOM viewer to install and no account to create, which makes it easy to open a scan someone sent you even if you have never worked with medical images before.
How do I open a DICOM file without a DICOM viewer?
Upload your DCM file using the file selector above. The conversion runs on our servers and produces a PDF you can open on any device, so you don't need specialized medical imaging software.
Which DICOM files are supported?
Files with .dcm and .dicom extensions from CT, MRI, ultrasound, X-ray, and other modalities. Compressed DICOM files using JPEG, JPEG 2000, JPEG-LS, or RLE encoding are decoded automatically.
What happens to multi-frame scans?
Each frame in the DICOM file becomes a separate page in the PDF, so a scan series stays together in one document in its original order.
Is it safe to convert medical images online?
Yes. Files are transferred over a 256-bit SSL encrypted connection and deleted from our servers automatically after three hours. Your medical images are never shared with third parties.
PDF conversion guides
Convert DICOM to PDF programmatically
Need DCM to PDF conversion in your application? Use the same DICOM rendering engine via ConvertAPI.