Ginkgo CADx is a free, open-source DICOM viewer and “dicomizer” (a tool that converts ordinary files into DICOM), originally built by the Spanish company MetaEmotion for clinics and hospitals. It is discontinued: the last release, 3.8.8, came out on 12 January 2019, and the maintainer archived the source code in November 2021.
People still search for Ginkgo CADx because older Linux guides recommend it and it was packaged for Debian and Ubuntu. This page explains what it did, where it can still run, and what to use instead for new installations. The honest summary: fine on an old Linux workstation that already has it, but not something to roll out to a dental practice in 2026.
Ginkgo CADx at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Latest version | 3.8.8 (12 January 2019), final release; project archived in November 2021 |
| Licence | Free and open source, GNU LGPL 3.0 |
| Platforms | Historically Windows, macOS and Linux; in practice only older Linux distributions today |
| Developer | MetaEmotion (original); later maintained by Gert Wollny |
| Official website | github.com/gerddie/ginkgocadx (archived); the original ginkgo-cadx.com site is offline |
| Best for | Existing Linux installations and study of an open-source DICOM workstation |
What it does
- DICOM viewer for CT, MR, PET, XA, mammography, ECG, visible-light photography (XC) and secondary capture images.
- Standard review tools: rulers, angles, window/level and cine mode for multi-frame series.
- PACS workstation functions: query and retrieve (C-FIND, C-GET, C-MOVE) and sending (C-STORE).
- Dicomizer: converts JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, BMP images and PDF documents into DICOM files.
- Integration with hospital systems through HL7 messages and IHE-style DICOM workflows.
- User profiles to customise the interface, and a plug-in architecture for extensions.
- Built in C++ on VTK, ITK, DCMTK and wxWidgets.
How dental teams use it
Turning clinical photos and scanned documents into DICOM
- Open the dicomizer and enter or select the patient and study details.
- Add intraoral photos (JPEG or PNG) or a scanned consent form (PDF).
- Create the DICOM objects and send them to the clinic PACS, so they sit next to the X-rays.
Reviewing a CT or CBCT series slice by slice
- Open the DICOM folder or retrieve the study from the PACS.
- Scroll through the slices and adjust window/level for bone.
- Measure with the ruler and angle tools.
For panoramic reconstructions, 3D rendering or STL export from CBCT, use a maintained tool from the alternatives below.
Install and first run
- Debian: version 3.8.8 was last shipped in Debian 11 “bullseye” as the package
ginkgocadx(sudo apt install ginkgocadx). It was removed from Debian testing in November 2021 and is not in newer Debian releases. - Building from source: the code needs ITK, VTK built with the legacy OpenGL rendering backend, wxWidgets 3.0, DCMTK 3.6.4 or later, CMake and a C++11 compiler. The maintainer notes that it does not compile against the current VTK OpenGL2 backend, which is the main reason development stopped.
- Windows and macOS: only old installers from the MetaEmotion era exist. They predate current Windows and macOS releases and may not install or run.
- Gotcha: the maintainer notes that the program requires an OpenGL compatibility profile. If the graphics stack does not provide one, the viewer cannot render images.
Limitations
- Discontinued: no security fixes, no bug fixes and no support for current operating systems.
- Depends on old library versions that modern Linux distributions no longer ship.
- We could not find any evidence that the free version is FDA-cleared or CE-marked. Do not rely on it for diagnosis.
- No dental-specific tools: no panoramic curve, implant planning or tooth segmentation.
- Ginkgo CADx Pro was a separate commercial edition from MetaEmotion; this page covers only the free open-source version.
Ginkgo CADx vs alternatives
| Tool | Status | Why choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Ginkgo CADx | Discontinued (2019) | Only if it is already installed and working |
| Weasis | Active, free, open source | Cross-platform viewer with PACS, curved MPR for CBCT and a dicomizer |
| InVesalius | Free, open source | 3D reconstruction from CT/CBCT and STL export |
| 3D Slicer | Active, free, open source | Segmentation and research workflows |
FAQ
Is Ginkgo CADx still maintained?
No. MetaEmotion abandoned it, and the community continuation had its final release (3.8.8) in January 2019. Its repository was archived in November 2021.
Is Ginkgo CADx free?
Yes. It is open source under the GNU LGPL 3.0 and costs nothing.
Can I install Ginkgo CADx on Debian or Ubuntu?
Only on older releases. Debian 11 “bullseye” was the last Debian version to ship it, and newer releases no longer include the package.
Does Ginkgo CADx work on Linux today?
It can run on older distributions that still have its libraries. On current distributions it is usually easier to install Weasis from Flathub, Snap or a DEB/RPM package.
Can Ginkgo CADx open DICOM from a dental CBCT?
It can display CT-type DICOM series slice by slice. It lacks the panoramic and cross-section tools that make CBCT review practical.
Is Ginkgo CADx FDA approved?
We found no evidence of FDA clearance or CE marking for the free open-source version.
What is the best Ginkgo CADx alternative?
Weasis: it is free, open source, actively developed, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and includes a dicomizer.
Last checked against official sources: 26 September 2026 (developer website: github.com). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in a clinic.
