view OrthancServer/FromDcmtkBridge.cpp @ 857:f53358c70c05 jpeg

fix
author Sebastien Jodogne <s.jodogne@gmail.com>
date Fri, 06 Jun 2014 15:01:19 +0200
parents 839be3022203
children 610a9a1ed855
line wrap: on
line source

/**
 * Orthanc - A Lightweight, RESTful DICOM Store
 * Copyright (C) 2012-2014 Medical Physics Department, CHU of Liege,
 * Belgium
 *
 * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or
 * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
 * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
 * License, or (at your option) any later version.
 *
 * In addition, as a special exception, the copyright holders of this
 * program give permission to link the code of its release with the
 * OpenSSL project's "OpenSSL" library (or with modified versions of it
 * that use the same license as the "OpenSSL" library), and distribute
 * the linked executables. You must obey the GNU General Public License
 * in all respects for all of the code used other than "OpenSSL". If you
 * modify file(s) with this exception, you may extend this exception to
 * your version of the file(s), but you are not obligated to do so. If
 * you do not wish to do so, delete this exception statement from your
 * version. If you delete this exception statement from all source files
 * in the program, then also delete it here.
 * 
 * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
 * WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
 * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU
 * General Public License for more details.
 *
 * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 * along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 **/



#include "PrecompiledHeadersServer.h"

#ifndef NOMINMAX
#define NOMINMAX
#endif

#include "Internals/DicomImageDecoder.h"

#include "FromDcmtkBridge.h"
#include "ToDcmtkBridge.h"
#include "../Core/Toolbox.h"
#include "../Core/OrthancException.h"
#include "../Core/ImageFormats/PngWriter.h"
#include "../Core/Uuid.h"
#include "../Core/DicomFormat/DicomString.h"
#include "../Core/DicomFormat/DicomNullValue.h"
#include "../Core/DicomFormat/DicomIntegerPixelAccessor.h"

#include <list>
#include <limits>

#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>

#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcchrstr.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcdicent.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcdict.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcfilefo.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcistrmb.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcuid.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcmetinf.h>

#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrae.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvras.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrcs.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrda.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrds.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrdt.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrfd.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrfl.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvris.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrlo.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrlt.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrpn.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrsh.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrsl.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrss.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrst.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrtm.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrui.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrul.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrus.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcvrut.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcpixel.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcpixseq.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcpxitem.h>


#include <boost/math/special_functions/round.hpp>
#include <glog/logging.h>
#include <dcmtk/dcmdata/dcostrmb.h>


namespace Orthanc
{
  static inline uint16_t GetCharValue(char c)
  {
    if (c >= '0' && c <= '9')
      return c - '0';
    else if (c >= 'a' && c <= 'f')
      return c - 'a' + 10;
    else if (c >= 'A' && c <= 'F')
      return c - 'A' + 10;
    else
      return 0;
  }

  static inline uint16_t GetTagValue(const char* c)
  {
    return ((GetCharValue(c[0]) << 12) + 
            (GetCharValue(c[1]) << 8) + 
            (GetCharValue(c[2]) << 4) + 
            GetCharValue(c[3]));
  }

  void FromDcmtkBridge::Convert(DicomMap& target, DcmDataset& dataset)
  {
    target.Clear();
    for (unsigned long i = 0; i < dataset.card(); i++)
    {
      DcmElement* element = dataset.getElement(i);
      if (element && element->isLeaf())
      {
        target.SetValue(element->getTag().getGTag(),
                        element->getTag().getETag(),
                        ConvertLeafElement(*element));
      }
    }
  }


  DicomTag FromDcmtkBridge::GetTag(const DcmElement& element)
  {
    return DicomTag(element.getGTag(), element.getETag());
  }


  DicomValue* FromDcmtkBridge::ConvertLeafElement(DcmElement& element)
  {
    if (!element.isLeaf())
    {
      throw OrthancException("Only applicable to leaf elements");
    }

    if (element.isaString())
    {
      char *c;
      if (element.getString(c).good() &&
          c != NULL)
      {
        std::string s(c);
        std::string utf8 = Toolbox::ConvertToUtf8(s, "ISO-8859-1"); // TODO Parameter?
        return new DicomString(utf8);
      }
      else
      {
        return new DicomNullValue;
      }
    }

    try
    {
      // http://support.dcmtk.org/docs/dcvr_8h-source.html
      switch (element.getVR())
      {

        /**
         * TODO.
         **/

        case EVR_OB:  // other byte
        case EVR_OF:  // other float
        case EVR_OW:  // other word
        case EVR_AT:  // attribute tag
        case EVR_UN:  // unknown value representation
          return new DicomNullValue();
    
          /**
           * String types, should never happen at this point because of
           * "element.isaString()".
           **/
      
        case EVR_DS:  // decimal string
        case EVR_IS:  // integer string
        case EVR_AS:  // age string
        case EVR_DA:  // date string
        case EVR_DT:  // date time string
        case EVR_TM:  // time string
        case EVR_AE:  // application entity title
        case EVR_CS:  // code string
        case EVR_SH:  // short string
        case EVR_LO:  // long string
        case EVR_ST:  // short text
        case EVR_LT:  // long text
        case EVR_UT:  // unlimited text
        case EVR_PN:  // person name
        case EVR_UI:  // unique identifier
          return new DicomNullValue();


          /**
           * Numerical types
           **/ 
      
        case EVR_SL:  // signed long
        {
          Sint32 f;
          if (dynamic_cast<DcmSignedLong&>(element).getSint32(f).good())
            return new DicomString(boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(f));
          else
            return new DicomNullValue();
        }

        case EVR_SS:  // signed short
        {
          Sint16 f;
          if (dynamic_cast<DcmSignedShort&>(element).getSint16(f).good())
            return new DicomString(boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(f));
          else
            return new DicomNullValue();
        }

        case EVR_UL:  // unsigned long
        {
          Uint32 f;
          if (dynamic_cast<DcmUnsignedLong&>(element).getUint32(f).good())
            return new DicomString(boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(f));
          else
            return new DicomNullValue();
        }

        case EVR_US:  // unsigned short
        {
          Uint16 f;
          if (dynamic_cast<DcmUnsignedShort&>(element).getUint16(f).good())
            return new DicomString(boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(f));
          else
            return new DicomNullValue();
        }

        case EVR_FL:  // float single-precision
        {
          Float32 f;
          if (dynamic_cast<DcmFloatingPointSingle&>(element).getFloat32(f).good())
            return new DicomString(boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(f));
          else
            return new DicomNullValue();
        }

        case EVR_FD:  // float double-precision
        {
          Float64 f;
          if (dynamic_cast<DcmFloatingPointDouble&>(element).getFloat64(f).good())
            return new DicomString(boost::lexical_cast<std::string>(f));
          else
            return new DicomNullValue();
        }


        /**
         * Sequence types, should never occur at this point because of
         * "element.isLeaf()".
         **/

        case EVR_SQ:  // sequence of items
          return new DicomNullValue;


          /**
           * Internal to DCMTK.
           **/ 

        case EVR_ox:  // OB or OW depending on context
        case EVR_xs:  // SS or US depending on context
        case EVR_lt:  // US, SS or OW depending on context, used for LUT Data (thus the name)
        case EVR_na:  // na="not applicable", for data which has no VR
        case EVR_up:  // up="unsigned pointer", used internally for DICOMDIR suppor
        case EVR_item:  // used internally for items
        case EVR_metainfo:  // used internally for meta info datasets
        case EVR_dataset:  // used internally for datasets
        case EVR_fileFormat:  // used internally for DICOM files
        case EVR_dicomDir:  // used internally for DICOMDIR objects
        case EVR_dirRecord:  // used internally for DICOMDIR records
        case EVR_pixelSQ:  // used internally for pixel sequences in a compressed image
        case EVR_pixelItem:  // used internally for pixel items in a compressed image
        case EVR_UNKNOWN: // used internally for elements with unknown VR (encoded with 4-byte length field in explicit VR)
        case EVR_PixelData:  // used internally for uncompressed pixeld data
        case EVR_OverlayData:  // used internally for overlay data
        case EVR_UNKNOWN2B:  // used internally for elements with unknown VR with 2-byte length field in explicit VR
          return new DicomNullValue;


          /**
           * Default case.
           **/ 

        default:
          return new DicomNullValue;
      }
    }
    catch (boost::bad_lexical_cast)
    {
      return new DicomNullValue;
    }
    catch (std::bad_cast)
    {
      return new DicomNullValue;
    }
  }


  static void StoreElement(Json::Value& target,
                           DcmElement& element,
                           unsigned int maxStringLength);

  static void StoreItem(Json::Value& target,
                        DcmItem& item,
                        unsigned int maxStringLength)
  {
    target = Json::Value(Json::objectValue);

    for (unsigned long i = 0; i < item.card(); i++)
    {
      DcmElement* element = item.getElement(i);
      StoreElement(target, *element, maxStringLength);
    }
  }


  static void StoreElement(Json::Value& target,
                           DcmElement& element,
                           unsigned int maxStringLength)
  {
    assert(target.type() == Json::objectValue);

    DicomTag tag(FromDcmtkBridge::GetTag(element));
    const std::string formattedTag = tag.Format();

#if 0
    const std::string tagName = FromDcmtkBridge::GetName(tag);
#else
    // This version of the code gives access to the name of the private tags
    DcmTag tagbis(element.getTag());
    const std::string tagName(tagbis.getTagName());      
#endif

    if (element.isLeaf())
    {
      Json::Value value(Json::objectValue);
      value["Name"] = tagName;

      if (tagbis.getPrivateCreator() != NULL)
      {
        value["PrivateCreator"] = tagbis.getPrivateCreator();
      }

      std::auto_ptr<DicomValue> v(FromDcmtkBridge::ConvertLeafElement(element));
      if (v->IsNull())
      {
        value["Type"] = "Null";
        value["Value"] = Json::nullValue;
      }
      else
      {
        std::string s = v->AsString();
        if (maxStringLength == 0 ||
            s.size() <= maxStringLength)
        {
          value["Type"] = "String";
          value["Value"] = s;
        }
        else
        {
          value["Type"] = "TooLong";
          value["Value"] = Json::nullValue;
        }
      }

      target[formattedTag] = value;
    }
    else
    {
      Json::Value children(Json::arrayValue);

      // "All subclasses of DcmElement except for DcmSequenceOfItems
      // are leaf nodes, while DcmSequenceOfItems, DcmItem, DcmDataset
      // etc. are not." The following cast is thus OK.
      DcmSequenceOfItems& sequence = dynamic_cast<DcmSequenceOfItems&>(element);

      for (unsigned long i = 0; i < sequence.card(); i++)
      {
        DcmItem* child = sequence.getItem(i);
        Json::Value& v = children.append(Json::objectValue);
        StoreItem(v, *child, maxStringLength);
      }  

      target[formattedTag]["Name"] = tagName;
      target[formattedTag]["Type"] = "Sequence";
      target[formattedTag]["Value"] = children;
    }
  }


  void FromDcmtkBridge::ToJson(Json::Value& root, 
                               DcmDataset& dataset,
                               unsigned int maxStringLength)
  {
    StoreItem(root, dataset, maxStringLength);
  }



  void FromDcmtkBridge::ToJson(Json::Value& target, 
                               const std::string& path,
                               unsigned int maxStringLength)
  {
    DcmFileFormat dicom;
    if (!dicom.loadFile(path.c_str()).good())
    {
      throw OrthancException(ErrorCode_BadFileFormat);
    }
    else
    {
      FromDcmtkBridge::ToJson(target, *dicom.getDataset(), maxStringLength);
    }
  }


  static void ExtractPngImageColorPreview(std::string& result,
                                          DicomIntegerPixelAccessor& accessor)
  {
    assert(accessor.GetInformation().GetChannelCount() == 3);
    PngWriter w;

    std::vector<uint8_t> image(accessor.GetInformation().GetWidth() * accessor.GetInformation().GetHeight() * 3, 0);
    uint8_t* pixel = &image[0];

    for (unsigned int y = 0; y < accessor.GetInformation().GetHeight(); y++)
    {
      for (unsigned int x = 0; x < accessor.GetInformation().GetWidth(); x++)
      {
        for (unsigned int c = 0; c < 3; c++, pixel++)
        {
          int32_t v = accessor.GetValue(x, y, c);
          if (v < 0)
            *pixel = 0;
          else if (v > 255)
            *pixel = 255;
          else
            *pixel = v;
        }
      }
    }

    w.WriteToMemory(result, accessor.GetInformation().GetWidth(), accessor.GetInformation().GetHeight(),
                    accessor.GetInformation().GetWidth() * 3, PixelFormat_RGB24, &image[0]);
  }


  static void ExtractPngImageGrayscalePreview(std::string& result,
                                              DicomIntegerPixelAccessor& accessor)
  {
    assert(accessor.GetInformation().GetChannelCount() == 1);
    PngWriter w;

    int32_t min, max;
    accessor.GetExtremeValues(min, max);

    std::vector<uint8_t> image(accessor.GetInformation().GetWidth() * accessor.GetInformation().GetHeight(), 0);
    if (min != max)
    {
      uint8_t* pixel = &image[0];
      for (unsigned int y = 0; y < accessor.GetInformation().GetHeight(); y++)
      {
        for (unsigned int x = 0; x < accessor.GetInformation().GetWidth(); x++, pixel++)
        {
          int32_t v = accessor.GetValue(x, y);
          *pixel = static_cast<uint8_t>(
            boost::math::lround(static_cast<float>(v - min) / 
                                static_cast<float>(max - min) * 255.0f));
        }
      }
    }

    w.WriteToMemory(result, accessor.GetInformation().GetWidth(), accessor.GetInformation().GetHeight(),
                    accessor.GetInformation().GetWidth(), PixelFormat_Grayscale8, &image[0]);
  }


  template <typename T>
  static void ExtractPngImageTruncate(std::string& result,
                                      DicomIntegerPixelAccessor& accessor,
                                      PixelFormat format)
  {
    assert(accessor.GetInformation().GetChannelCount() == 1);

    PngWriter w;

    std::vector<T> image(accessor.GetInformation().GetWidth() * accessor.GetInformation().GetHeight(), 0);
    T* pixel = &image[0];
    for (unsigned int y = 0; y < accessor.GetInformation().GetHeight(); y++)
    {
      for (unsigned int x = 0; x < accessor.GetInformation().GetWidth(); x++, pixel++)
      {
        int32_t v = accessor.GetValue(x, y);
        if (v < static_cast<int32_t>(std::numeric_limits<T>::min()))
          *pixel = std::numeric_limits<T>::min();
        else if (v > static_cast<int32_t>(std::numeric_limits<T>::max()))
          *pixel = std::numeric_limits<T>::max();
        else
          *pixel = static_cast<T>(v);
      }
    }

    w.WriteToMemory(result, accessor.GetInformation().GetWidth(), accessor.GetInformation().GetHeight(),
                    accessor.GetInformation().GetWidth() * sizeof(T), format, &image[0]);
  }




  void FromDcmtkBridge::ExtractPngImage(std::string& result,
                                        DcmDataset& dataset,
                                        unsigned int frame,
                                        ImageExtractionMode mode)
  {
    // See also: http://support.dcmtk.org/wiki/dcmtk/howto/accessing-compressed-data

    std::auto_ptr<DicomIntegerPixelAccessor> accessor;

    DicomMap m;
    FromDcmtkBridge::Convert(m, dataset);

    std::string privateContent;

    DcmElement* e;
    if (dataset.findAndGetElement(ToDcmtkBridge::Convert(DICOM_TAG_PIXEL_DATA), e).good() &&
        e != NULL)
    {
      Uint8* pixData = NULL;
      if (e->getUint8Array(pixData) == EC_Normal)
      {    
        accessor.reset(new DicomIntegerPixelAccessor(m, pixData, e->getLength()));
        accessor->SetCurrentFrame(frame);
      }
    }
    else if (DicomImageDecoder::DecodePsmctRle1(privateContent, dataset))
    {
      LOG(INFO) << "The PMSCT_RLE1 decoding has succeeded";
      Uint8* pixData = NULL;
      if (privateContent.size() > 0)
        pixData = reinterpret_cast<Uint8*>(&privateContent[0]);
      accessor.reset(new DicomIntegerPixelAccessor(m, pixData, privateContent.size()));
      accessor->SetCurrentFrame(frame);
    }
    
    if (accessor.get() == NULL)
    {
      throw OrthancException(ErrorCode_BadFileFormat);
    }

    PixelFormat format;
    bool supported = false;

    if (accessor->GetInformation().GetChannelCount() == 1)
    {
      switch (mode)
      {
        case ImageExtractionMode_Preview:
          supported = true;
          format = PixelFormat_Grayscale8;
          break;

        case ImageExtractionMode_UInt8:
          supported = true;
          format = PixelFormat_Grayscale8;
          break;

        case ImageExtractionMode_UInt16:
          supported = true;
          format = PixelFormat_Grayscale16;
          break;

        case ImageExtractionMode_Int16:
          supported = true;
          format = PixelFormat_SignedGrayscale16;
          break;

        default:
          supported = false;
          break;
      }
    }
    else if (accessor->GetInformation().GetChannelCount() == 3)
    {
      switch (mode)
      {
        case ImageExtractionMode_Preview:
          supported = true;
          format = PixelFormat_RGB24;
          break;

        default:
          supported = false;
          break;
      }
    }

    if (!supported)
    {
      throw OrthancException(ErrorCode_NotImplemented);
    }   

    if (accessor.get() == NULL ||
        accessor->GetInformation().GetWidth() == 0 ||
        accessor->GetInformation().GetHeight() == 0)
    {
      PngWriter w;
      w.WriteToMemory(result, 0, 0, 0, format, NULL);
    }
    else
    {
      switch (mode)
      {
        case ImageExtractionMode_Preview:
          if (format == PixelFormat_Grayscale8)
            ExtractPngImageGrayscalePreview(result, *accessor);
          else
            ExtractPngImageColorPreview(result, *accessor);
          break;

        case ImageExtractionMode_UInt8:
          ExtractPngImageTruncate<uint8_t>(result, *accessor, format);
          break;

        case ImageExtractionMode_UInt16:
          ExtractPngImageTruncate<uint16_t>(result, *accessor, format);
          break;

        case ImageExtractionMode_Int16:
          ExtractPngImageTruncate<int16_t>(result, *accessor, format);
          break;

        default:
          throw OrthancException(ErrorCode_NotImplemented);
      }
    }
  }


  void FromDcmtkBridge::ExtractPngImage(std::string& result,
                                        const std::string& dicomContent,
                                        unsigned int frame,
                                        ImageExtractionMode mode)
  {
    DcmInputBufferStream is;
    if (dicomContent.size() > 0)
    {
      is.setBuffer(&dicomContent[0], dicomContent.size());
    }
    is.setEos();

    DcmFileFormat dicom;
    if (dicom.read(is).good())
    {
      ExtractPngImage(result, *dicom.getDataset(), frame, mode);
    }
    else
    {
      throw OrthancException(ErrorCode_BadFileFormat);
    }
  }



  std::string FromDcmtkBridge::GetName(const DicomTag& t)
  {
    // Some patches for important tags because of different DICOM
    // dictionaries between DCMTK versions
    std::string n = t.GetMainTagsName();
    if (n.size() != 0)
    {
      return n;
    }
    // End of patches

#if 0
    DcmTagKey tag(t.GetGroup(), t.GetElement());
    const DcmDataDictionary& dict = dcmDataDict.rdlock();
    const DcmDictEntry* entry = dict.findEntry(tag, NULL);

    std::string s(DcmTag_ERROR_TagName);
    if (entry != NULL)
    {
      s = std::string(entry->getTagName());
    }

    dcmDataDict.unlock();
    return s;
#else
    DcmTag tag(t.GetGroup(), t.GetElement());
    const char* name = tag.getTagName();
    if (name == NULL)
    {
      return DcmTag_ERROR_TagName;
    }
    else
    {
      return std::string(name);
    }
#endif
  }


  DicomTag FromDcmtkBridge::ParseTag(const char* name)
  {
    if (strlen(name) == 9 &&
        isxdigit(name[0]) &&
        isxdigit(name[1]) &&
        isxdigit(name[2]) &&
        isxdigit(name[3]) &&
        name[4] == '-' &&
        isxdigit(name[5]) &&
        isxdigit(name[6]) &&
        isxdigit(name[7]) &&
        isxdigit(name[8]))        
    {
      uint16_t group = GetTagValue(name);
      uint16_t element = GetTagValue(name + 5);
      return DicomTag(group, element);
    }

#if 0
    const DcmDataDictionary& dict = dcmDataDict.rdlock();
    const DcmDictEntry* entry = dict.findEntry(name);

    if (entry == NULL)
    {
      dcmDataDict.unlock();
      throw OrthancException("Unknown DICOM tag");
    }
    else
    {
      DcmTagKey key = entry->getKey();
      DicomTag tag(key.getGroup(), key.getElement());
      dcmDataDict.unlock();
      return tag;
    }
#else
    DcmTag tag;
    if (DcmTag::findTagFromName(name, tag).good())
    {
      return DicomTag(tag.getGTag(), tag.getETag());
    }
    else
    {
      throw OrthancException("Unknown DICOM tag");
    }
#endif
  }


  void FromDcmtkBridge::Print(FILE* fp, const DicomMap& m)
  {
    for (DicomMap::Map::const_iterator 
           it = m.map_.begin(); it != m.map_.end(); ++it)
    {
      DicomTag t = it->first;
      std::string s = it->second->AsString();
      fprintf(fp, "0x%04x 0x%04x (%s) [%s]\n", t.GetGroup(), t.GetElement(), GetName(t).c_str(), s.c_str());
    }
  }


  void FromDcmtkBridge::ToJson(Json::Value& result,
                               const DicomMap& values)
  {
    if (result.type() != Json::objectValue)
    {
      throw OrthancException(ErrorCode_BadParameterType);
    }

    result.clear();

    for (DicomMap::Map::const_iterator 
           it = values.map_.begin(); it != values.map_.end(); ++it)
    {
      result[GetName(it->first)] = it->second->AsString();
    }
  }


  std::string FromDcmtkBridge::GenerateUniqueIdentifier(ResourceType level)
  {
    char uid[100];

    switch (level)
    {
      case ResourceType_Patient:
        // The "PatientID" field is of type LO (Long String), 64
        // Bytes Maximum. An UUID is of length 36, thus it can be used
        // as a random PatientID.
        return Toolbox::GenerateUuid();

      case ResourceType_Instance:
        return dcmGenerateUniqueIdentifier(uid, SITE_INSTANCE_UID_ROOT);

      case ResourceType_Series:
        return dcmGenerateUniqueIdentifier(uid, SITE_SERIES_UID_ROOT);

      case ResourceType_Study:
        return dcmGenerateUniqueIdentifier(uid, SITE_STUDY_UID_ROOT);

      default:
        throw OrthancException(ErrorCode_ParameterOutOfRange);
    }
  }

  bool FromDcmtkBridge::SaveToMemoryBuffer(std::string& buffer,
                                           DcmDataset* dataSet)
  {
    // Determine the transfer syntax which shall be used to write the
    // information to the file. We always switch to the Little Endian
    // syntax, with explicit length.

    // http://support.dcmtk.org/docs/dcxfer_8h-source.html


    /**
     * Note that up to Orthanc 0.7.1 (inclusive), the
     * "EXS_LittleEndianExplicit" was always used to save the DICOM
     * dataset into memory. We now keep the original transfer syntax
     * (if available).
     **/
    E_TransferSyntax xfer = dataSet->getOriginalXfer();
    if (xfer == EXS_Unknown)
    {
      // No information about the original transfer syntax: This is
      // most probably a DICOM dataset that was read from memory.
      xfer = EXS_LittleEndianExplicit;
    }

    E_EncodingType encodingType = /*opt_sequenceType*/ EET_ExplicitLength;

    // Create the meta-header information
    DcmFileFormat ff(dataSet);
    ff.validateMetaInfo(xfer);

    // Create a memory buffer with the proper size
    uint32_t s = ff.calcElementLength(xfer, encodingType);
    buffer.resize(s);
    DcmOutputBufferStream ob(&buffer[0], s);

    // Fill the memory buffer with the meta-header and the dataset
    ff.transferInit();
    OFCondition c = ff.write(ob, xfer, encodingType, NULL,
                             /*opt_groupLength*/ EGL_recalcGL,
                             /*opt_paddingType*/ EPD_withoutPadding);
    ff.transferEnd();

    // Handle errors
    if (c.good())
    {
      return true;
    }
    else
    {
      buffer.clear();
      return false;
    }
  }
}