Method and system for displaying and/or manipulating medical image data

In one embodiment, a medical image viewer in compliance with a medical image standard is provided, and a file in compliance with the medical image standard is provided to the medical image viewer. The medical image standard specifies a first field for data not in compliance with the medical image standard and a second field for data in compliance with the medical image standard. The first field of the file comprises medical image data, and the second field of the file comprises information that can be used to obtain software to at least one of display and manipulate the medical image data. The software is obtained, and at least one of the following is performed with the software: displaying the medical image data and manipulating the medical image data. Other embodiments are provided, and each of the embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.