CDRZIP File

What are CDRZIP files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a CDRZIP file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your CDRZIP files.

What is a CDRZIP file?

A .CDRZIP file is a DICOM Images Zipped Archive file.

A DICOM Images Zipped Archive is a ZIP-based container that holds one DICOM File-set. It is created when medical imaging software or systems bundle many individual DICOM files - each representing a medical image instance - along with a manifest file named DICOMDIR. The archive helps in transporting or storing entire imaging studies in a single package that preserves the directory structure and metadata that link all the images together properly.

Creators typically follow the DICOM standard Part 12 (Media Formats and Physical Media for Media Interchange), which specifies that one and only one File-set may be contained in the ZIP container. The manifest DICOMDIR file resides at the root of the Archive's directory structure, lists all image instances in the set, and encodes patient, study, and series hierarchy along with information needed to locate each image. Each image file inside follows the PS3.10 DICOM File Format including proper SOP Instance headers.

The file is recognized by looking into its ZIP structure (beginning with the PK signature at offset 0) and finding the manifest DICOMDIR string at the root, as well as keywords such as VIEWSET or IMAGE in the entries. The presence of "DICOMDIR" located at offset 30, "DICOMDIRPK", plus the standard "PK" ZIP header confirms its identity.

How to open CDRZIP files

Important: Different programs may use files with the CDRZIP file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your CDRZIP file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Last updated: August 31, 2026

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