Which of the following is an image-based medical protocol that specifies image formats?

The correct choice is DICOM, which stands for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. DICOM is a standard protocol used in the medical field to ensure interoperability among imaging devices and systems. It specifies a comprehensive framework for the format and transmission of medical images, as well as associated data.

DICOM not only defines the file format for medical images but also sets protocols for how images can be transmitted over networks, stored, and retrieved by various imaging devices and applications. This standardization is crucial for sharing images such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans across different manufacturers' equipment in hospitals and clinics, ensuring that these images can be viewed and interpreted consistently, regardless of the equipment used to capture them.

In contrast, options such as DNS (Domain Name System) and TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) are protocols related to computer networking but do not specialize in medical imaging. DNS is used for resolving domain names to IP addresses, while TCP is a fundamental transport layer protocol that manages the transmission of data packets across networks. PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) is a medical imaging technology that uses various standards, including DICOM, for storing and transmitting images, but it is not a protocol itself. Thus, DICOM is the specific image