Hospital gave you a scan CD — here's how to open it

You left the hospital with a disc in a paper sleeve. The label says "DICOM" or "Images" and maybe your name. Now you're home wondering what it's for. Short version: the disc has every slice of your MRI or CT scan, plus usually a small Windows launcher that doesn't work on current operating systems. You can ignore the launcher. Drop the disc's DICOM folder into OpenMyScan in your browser and your scan appears — no install, no upload, nothing leaves your computer.

Quick answer (3 steps)

1. Insert the CD. Copy the DICOM folder off the disc onto your computer's Desktop.
2. Open https://openmyscan.com in any modern browser.
3. Drag the folder into the page.

First: what's actually on the disc?

• A folder (often DICOM, IMAGES, or patient-named) containing hundreds of small files with names like IM00001, IM00002, or 1.dcm. These are your scan slices.
• A DICOMDIR file (no extension) — the disc's index.
• A Windows .exe launcher, usually with a generic name. Often old, often broken on modern Windows, never needed. Skip it.
• Sometimes a PDF of the radiology report.

Step 1 — Get the disc into the computer

• Has a CD drive? Just insert it.
• No CD drive (most modern laptops)? Options in rough order of cheapness: (a) borrow a friend's desktop; (b) get a $10–20 USB CD drive from any electronics shop; (c) ask the hospital's medical-records desk for a USB copy or a download link — most can email a portal link for free if you ask.
• Disc doesn't mount at all? Try it on another computer. If two computers can't read it, ask for a replacement. Clinics re-burn copies routinely.

Step 2 — Copy, don't open in place

Drag the DICOM folder from the disc to your Desktop. Reading files from a CD is slow (minutes, not seconds) and the drive may give up. Copying once to hard-disk is faster and more reliable.

Step 3 — Open OpenMyScan

https://openmyscan.com in Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox. The page prompts you to drop a folder.

Step 4 — Drop it in

Drag the Desktop copy of the DICOM folder onto the drop zone. Wait while it reads; large studies can take 30–90 seconds.

Step 5 — Browse

You'll see a list of "series" (T1, T2, axial, coronal for an MRI; different orientations and contrasts for CT). Click each to page through slices.

Keep a backup

Discs scratch, drawers shuffle. Copy the folder once to a cloud service you already use (Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud) or to a USB stick you'll remember. Name it clearly: 2026-04-17 brain MRI.zip. This isn't required to use OpenMyScan, but years from now when you want to compare to a new scan, you'll thank yourself.

Common worries

Am I uploading this to you when I drop it?

No. OpenMyScan runs entirely in your browser; your files never leave the computer. You can even unplug your WiFi after the page loads and the viewer keeps working.

Is this HIPAA / GDPR okay?

You're viewing your own scan on your own computer; no third party (including us) gets a copy. OpenMyScan's servers never see your data.

What if I want a doctor to look too?

Two options. (1) Give them the original CD. (2) Create a share-package ZIP with OpenMyScan Pro — one file your GP can email to a specialist. Either way the decision to share is yours.

Open your scan right now

No install, no upload, nothing leaves your computer.

Open viewer

Frequently asked questions