diff --git a/monai/data/image_reader.py b/monai/data/image_reader.py
index 66c41a1ba8..3ca08f863a 100644
--- a/monai/data/image_reader.py
+++ b/monai/data/image_reader.py
@@ -319,12 +319,10 @@ def _get_meta_dict(self, img) -> Dict:
 
         """
         img_meta_dict = img.GetMetaDataDictionary()
-        meta_dict = {}
-        for key in img_meta_dict.GetKeys():
-            if key.startswith("ITK_"):
-                continue
-            val = img_meta_dict[key]
-            meta_dict[key] = np.asarray(val) if type(val).__name__.startswith("itk") else val
+        meta_dict = {key: img_meta_dict[key] for key in img_meta_dict.GetKeys() if not key.startswith("ITK_")}
+
+        if "qto_xyz" in meta_dict and not isinstance(meta_dict["qto_xyz"], np.ndarray):
+            meta_dict["qto_xyz"] = np.array(meta_dict["qto_xyz"])
 
         meta_dict["spacing"] = np.asarray(img.GetSpacing())
         return meta_dict