JP2007054382A - Mammographic system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mammographic system which can automatically discriminate the left and right sides of a photographed breast and correctly mate a breast image with a photographing order information. <P>SOLUTION: The photographing device 10 produces one discrimination code for discriminating the left and right sides of a photographed breast for at least one of CC and MLO photographs and another discrimination code for discriminating the photographing direction for at least two photographs, and then transmits the codes to the control device 30. The control device 30 accords with the discrimination cords input from the photographing device 10 to discriminate the left and right sides and the photographing direction of the breast in the breast image input from the reading device 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a breast image photographing system for photographing a breast image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an imaging system has been developed that connects an X-ray imaging apparatus for imaging a breast region for examination of breast cancer or the like and a control device thereof via a communication network to facilitate imaging management work.

  In the above imaging system, instruction information regarding imaging called imaging order information is issued at the request of a doctor before imaging, and imaging work is recommended by an imaging engineer based on this imaging order information. The imaging order information is instruction information including information related to the patient such as the name and sex of the patient to be imaged, information related to imaging such as the imaging region, imaging direction, and imaging method, examination information such as the examination date and the name of the doctor in charge. is there. When a breast image is generated by imaging performed based on imaging order information, the imaging system performs processing for attaching the imaging order information to the breast image as information related to the breast image. Thereafter, the breast image is managed as a database based on the accompanying information.

  When a breast image is taken, the right and left breasts are often taken from a plurality of different photographing directions for a single patient. For this reason, photographing work may be continuously performed using an image detector such as a cassette. When using multiple cassettes in continuous shooting, if it is unclear which cassette was used for shooting with which shooting order information, the shooting system recognizes which shooting order information should be attached to the breast image read from the cassette. Therefore, it is necessary to perform setting registration (this is referred to as cassette registration) for associating the imaging order information with the unique ID of the cassette before or after imaging.

In recent years, in order to omit complicated cassette registration, information related to rotation of the imaging device is acquired every time imaging is performed, and the left and right and imaging directions of the breasts in each breast image are determined from this rotation direction information. A technique for automatically associating with imaging order information based on the result has been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This is because when imaging is performed in an oblique direction (hereinafter referred to as MLO), the imaging platform is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise by about 45 degrees from the vertical direction (with respect to the ground) according to the left and right of the breast. This is because, if the rotation direction and the rotation angle are known, the image of the breast obtained by photographing is in the oblique direction, and it is possible to determine which of the left and right breasts is photographed.
JP 2004-321479 A

  However, for breast images obtained by MLO imaging, the left and right and imaging directions of the breast can be determined from information on the rotation direction of the imaging apparatus. However, breast images captured in the vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as CC). Since there is almost no rotation of the imaging stand, it can be known from the rotation angle that the imaging direction is CC, but it is unclear whether the left or right breast has been imaged. Therefore, in order to associate with the imaging order information, the imaging engineer has to perform an operation of inputting information indicating which breast is to be imaged in place of the rotation direction information at the time of imaging.

  An object of the present invention is to automate the determination of the right and left of a photographic breast in each breast image and accurately associate each breast image with photographic order information.

The invention according to claim 1 is a mammography system.
In a breast imaging system for imaging a breast region with an imaging device and an image detector,
When the left and right breasts of one subject are photographed alternately in a plurality of photographing directions, left / right discrimination information is generated that indicates which of the plurality of photographings the left and right breasts are photographed for at least one of the photographings. Information generating means for
Discriminating means for discriminating left and right breasts in each breast image obtained from the image detector by the plurality of imaging based on the generated left / right discrimination information;
It is characterized by providing.

The invention described in claim 2 is the breast imaging system according to claim 1,
The information generation means generates direction determination information indicating a shooting direction for at least two of the plurality of shootings;
The discriminating unit discriminates an imaging direction in each breast image obtained from the image detector by the plurality of imaging based on the direction discrimination information.

The invention described in claim 3 is the breast imaging system according to claim 1 or 2,
The imaging apparatus is a mammography apparatus in which an imaging unit for imaging a breast is configured to be rotatable,
The left / right discrimination information is generated according to a rotation direction of an imaging unit of the mammography apparatus.

The invention described in claim 4 is the breast imaging system according to claim 2,
The imaging apparatus is a mammography apparatus in which an imaging unit for imaging a breast is configured to be rotatable,
The direction discrimination information is generated according to a rotation angle of an imaging unit of the mammography apparatus.

The invention according to claim 5 is the breast imaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Order storage means for storing imaging order information in which the left and right of the breast to be imaged are defined;
An image for storing the imaging order information in association with each breast image based on the determination result of the left and right breasts for each breast image by the determination unit and the information on the left and right breasts determined by the imaging order information. Storage means;
It is characterized by providing.

The invention described in claim 6 is the breast imaging system according to claim 2 or 4,
Order storage means for storing imaging order information in which the right and left of the breast to be imaged and the imaging direction are determined;
Based on the determination result of the left and right breasts and the imaging direction for each breast image by the determination means and the information on the left and right breasts and the imaging direction of the breast determined by the imaging order information, the imaging order information is added to each breast image. Image storage means for storing in association;
It is characterized by providing.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is the breast imaging system according to any one of the second, fourth, and sixth aspects,
The information generating means generates direction discrimination information for photographing in an oblique direction.

  According to the first to fourth and seventh aspects of the present invention, the left and right and photographing directions of the breasts in a plurality of breast images obtained for one subject are determined by the discrimination code generated from the rotation state of the photographing stand at the time of photographing. It can be easily distinguished. In particular, for the breast image of CC, the left and right sides of the breast cannot be determined from the rotation angle of the imaging table. However, according to the present invention, the left and right sides of the breast are previously determined for all the breast images, and then two shots are taken. By discriminating the imaging direction, all imaging directions are discriminated from the relationship between the right and left of the breast and the imaging direction, so that it is possible to automate the discrimination of the left and right breasts for CC breast images.

  According to the fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention, the imaging order information corresponding to the breast image can be determined from the determined left and right breasts and the imaging direction. If the left and right breasts can be photographed in one direction with respect to the left and right breasts, the imaging order information can be determined from the relationship between the left and right breasts. When photographing from two directions, If the imaging direction of two breast images can be determined after determining the right and left of the breast, the imaging order information can be determined from the relationship. Thus, the image management can be performed by associating the imaging order information with the breast image easily and accurately without performing complicated cassette registration.

  Breast images are often taken from only one direction, such as the oblique direction (hereinafter abbreviated as MLO) for each of the left and right breasts for simple examinations. In many cases, shooting is performed in a plurality of different shooting directions such as MLO and CC. The breasts are compressed at the time of imaging, but this compression may be painful. Therefore, when multiple imaging is performed continuously, it is generally performed alternately left and right, left, right, etc. is there.

  For example, when four images are taken in total in the MLO and CC imaging directions for each of the left and right breasts, the four breast images generated by the imaging are arranged in the imaging order, as shown in FIG. It will be a thing. In addition, the arrangement direction of each cassette used for the imaging in the imaging apparatus and the loading direction of each cassette into the reading apparatus are the same. Here, the imaging site (breast) is alternately changed in order of left to right. Suppose you have taken a photo. In FIG. 1, the breast images in which the cassette shooting and reading conditions are unified are arranged such that one side where the cassette is brought into contact with the subject is positioned on the right side.

  As shown in FIG. 1, regarding the breast image of MLO, it can be determined that the imaging direction is MLO depending on the breast shape or the presence of the pectoral muscle, and the breast region is upside down depending on whether the breast part is left or right. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the breast part is left or right by visual inspection by an engineer or pattern recognition processing by a computer. On the other hand, the breast image of CC is difficult to discriminate by visual observation or pattern recognition because the breast shape in the breast image is similar and the image position is the same regardless of the left or right breast part. However, as described above, if it is assumed that imaging is performed alternately between the left and right breasts, for example, if it is known that the breast part of the breast image in imaging order 2 is the right breast, imaging order 1, It can be determined that the breast image 3 is the left breast (indicated by the symbol “L”) and the breast part of the imaging image 4 is the right breast (indicated by the symbol “R”). Also, since MLO and CC imaging is performed based on the imaging order information, if the imaging directions of the breast images in the imaging order 1 and 2 are known as MLO, the imaging directions in the other imaging orders 3 and 4 except for the MLO are CC. Can be determined.

That is, assuming that four imagings of CC and MLO are performed alternately on the left and right, if the left and right of the breast can be specified for at least one breast image among a plurality of breast images, the other breasts can be determined from the imaging order. The left and right breasts of the image can also be determined. If the imaging direction can be specified for at least two breast images, the imaging direction for other breast images can be determined from the imaging order information.
Based on this, in the present embodiment, in CC and MLO imaging, acquisition information of the left and right of the breast imaged for at least one imaging, and further acquisition information of imaging direction for at least two imaging, An example of discriminating the left and right of the breast part and the imaging direction of each breast image will be described.

First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 2 shows a system configuration of the breast image capturing system 100.
The breast image photographing system 100 performs photographing using a cassette with a breast as a photographing part, and generates breast image data. As shown in FIG. 2, the mammography system 100 includes an imaging device 10, a control device 30, and a reading device 50, and the imaging device 10 and the reading device 50 are each connected to the control device 30. .

The imaging apparatus 10 performs X-ray imaging using a patient's breast as a subject, and causes the image detector to detect the X-ray image (breast image). In the present embodiment, an example in which a cassette is used as an image detector will be described, but another image detector such as an FPD (Flat Panel Detector) may be used.
FIG. 3 shows the photographing apparatus 10.
As shown in FIG. 3, the imaging device 10 is configured such that an imaging unit 1 that performs imaging is formed in an arm shape, can be moved up and down along a support column 2, and can be rotated through a support shaft 4. In addition, the main body unit 3 is provided for performing the up / down / rotating operation of the photographing unit 1 and the communication operation with the control device 30, and the technician can perform the photographing operation through the main body unit 3.

  The imaging unit 1 includes a compression plate 7 in which an X-ray source 5 that generates X-rays and an imaging table 6 for mounting a breast are opposed to each other, and the breast placed on the imaging table 6 is sandwiched and pressed. It is prepared for. FIG. 4 shows a side view of the photographing unit 1.

  In addition, a rotation detection unit 8 is provided in the arm portion of the imaging unit 1. The rotation detection unit 8 detects a rotation angle and a rotation direction of the photographing unit 1 and outputs detection information to the main body unit 3. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the angle of the imaging unit 1 in the upright state (this is a fixed position) is 0 degree and the camera is rotated 30 degrees counterclockwise, the rotation detection unit 8 Detection information of “−30 degrees” is output. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the photographing unit 1 is rotated 30 degrees clockwise, detection information “+30 degrees” is output.

  When shooting in the shooting direction CC, the shooting unit 1 is shot at a fixed position (rotation angle 0 degree). Further, when photographing with MLO, photographing is performed by rotating the photographing unit 1 about 45 degrees from a fixed position. At this time, when photographing the left breast, it is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 4 (a), and when photographing the right breast, it is rotated clockwise as shown in FIG. 4 (b). Let Therefore, in the rotation information output by the rotation detection unit 8, when the sign of the rotation angle is “+”, the imaging region is the right breast, and when it is “−”, it indicates the left breast.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the photographing unit 1 is configured so that a cassette c can be mounted on the upper part of the photographing table 6, and a cassette holder (not shown) for fixing the cassette c to the photographing table 6 is provided. Is formed.

  The cassette c has a built-in phosphor plate and records the X-ray image by absorbing the X-ray transmitted through the subject into the phosphor plate. The cassette c includes a general type that can be used for an imaging region other than the breast, and a cassette that is dedicated for mammography, but any type of cassette c may be used.

  Further, when the phase contrast method is adopted as a method for photographing a breast image, the photographing unit 1 is configured as shown in FIG. As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-91479, the phase contrast method is an enlargement in which the focal size of the X-ray source, the distance from the X-ray source to the subject, and the distance from the subject to the image detector are in a predetermined relationship. This is imaging, and an edge-enhanced image of the lesion margin can be obtained, contributing to accurate interpretation diagnosis. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6, the photographing unit 1 is provided with two compression plates 7, and the photographing stand 6 is disposed therebelow. In the case of the phase contrast method, the size of the cassette c used for photographing becomes large (generally, in the case of a normal photographing method, a six-cut size (8 × 10; inch) is used, and in the case of the phase contrast method) Is a half-cut size (14 × 17; inch)), and the imaging table 6 is also formed with an enlarged area.

Next, the barcode provided in the cassette c will be described.
The cassette c is usually given a cassette ID as identification information unique to the cassette, and the cassette ID is converted into a barcode so that the other side of the cassette c facing one side of the cassette c as shown in FIG. Is displayed. Correspondingly, the imaging table 6 is provided with an ID reading unit 3f that reads a barcode at a position corresponding to a portion (the ID portion c1) where the barcode is displayed when the cassette c is arranged. It has been. When the ID reading section 3f can normally read the ID section c1 of the cassette c mounted on the photographing stand 6, it is determined that the cassette c is mounted in the correct arrangement direction, and the ID section c1 can be read. If not, it is determined that the cassette c is disposed in the wrong direction.

Next, the internal configuration of the main body 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
The main body 3 includes a control unit 3a, an input unit 3b, a display unit 3c, a memory 3d, and a communication unit 3e.

  The control unit 3a includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. In cooperation with a control program such as an imaging program stored in the memory 3d, the control unit 3a performs radiation irradiation timing and explosion in the radiation source 5. Centralized control of the operation of each unit, such as adjustment of the shooting amount and rotation control of the photographing unit 1.

  Further, the control unit 3a is configured to determine left and right breasts in the imaging and the imaging direction based on detection information relating to the rotation of the imaging unit 1 input from the rotation detection unit 8 after imaging. Direction discriminating information is generated. In the present embodiment, a determination code that combines left / right determination information and direction determination information is generated. The details of the determination code will be described together with the operation description of the breast image capturing system 100.

  The input unit 3b includes a key for inputting various imaging conditions such as a tube voltage or a tube current value, and generates an operation signal corresponding to the operated key and outputs the operation signal to the control unit 3a. .

  The display unit 3c is configured to include a display display, and displays various display information such as input information from the input unit 3b and processing results by the control unit 3a on the display display.

  The memory 3d includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and stores various control programs, parameters necessary for execution of the programs, and data such as processing results.

  The communication unit 3c is configured to include a communication interface such as a network interface card, and exchanges information with the control device 30. For example, the communication unit 3 c transmits the left / right determination information and the direction determination information generated by the control unit 3 a to the control device 30.

Next, the control device 30 will be described.
The control device 30 performs imaging management based on the imaging order information and manages the breast image read by the reading device 50.
FIG. 9 shows the internal configuration of the control device 30.
As shown in FIG. 9, the control device 30 includes a control unit 31, an operation unit 32, a display unit 33, a communication unit 34, a storage unit 35, and an image memory 36.

  The control unit 31 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The control program stored in the storage unit 35 by the CPU is expanded in the RAM, and the processing operation of each unit is performed according to the control program. Overall control.

  In the present embodiment, when a plurality of breast images for one patient are acquired, the control unit 31 determines the breast image of the MLO and the MLO among the breast images based on the designation information input via the operation unit 32. The breast part in the breast image is identified. Then, based on the acquisition order of each breast image and the breast image of the MLO, the left and right of the breast part of another breast image are determined. Further, the imaging direction of another breast image is determined based on the imaging order information and the breast image of the MLO.

  The operation unit 32 is an operation unit such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel configured integrally with the display unit 33, and generates an operation signal corresponding to the operation and outputs the operation signal to the control unit 31.

  The display unit 33 includes a display such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and includes various operation screens such as a list screen of imaging order information and a imaging result screen of a breast image input from the reading device 50. Display information such as processing results and messages.

  The communication unit 34 includes a communication interface such as a network interface card and a modem, and transmits / receives data to / from an external device such as the imaging device 10 and the reading device 50. For example, imaging order information issued by an unillustrated HIS (Hospital Information System), RIS (Radiology Information System) or the like before imaging is received. Alternatively, instruction information relating to image reading instructed in the imaging order information is transmitted to the reading device 50, and the read breast image data is received from the reading device 50.

  The storage unit 35 stores control programs, parameters necessary for execution of the control programs, and data such as processing results.

The storage unit 35 stores a shooting order table 351 for managing shooting order information. The imaging order information is imaging instruction information defining imaging contents, and is generated in a system such as HIS (Hospital Information System) at the request of a doctor.
In the imaging order table 351, as shown in FIG. 10, for each order ID for individually identifying imaging order information, patient information (patient ID, name, etc.) related to the imaging target patient, imaging information (imaging imaging) Date, imaging region, imaging direction, etc.) are stored. In addition, a cassette ID and a discrimination code transmitted from the photographing apparatus 10 for each photographing are stored in association with the photographing order information.

  The image memory 36 stores a breast image received from the reading device 50.

Next, the reading device 50 will be described.
The reading device 50 is a reading unit that performs a reading process of a breast image recorded in the cassette c and generates breast image data. The reading device 50 includes a reading unit for reading a breast image by irradiating the phosphor plate of the cassette c loaded with excitation light and photoelectrically converting the stimulated light, and a communication unit for communicating with the control device 30. The operation unit is provided.

Next, the operation of the breast imaging system 100 will be described with reference to the imaging work of the imaging engineer with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 11, in the mammography system 100, first, the control apparatus 30 displays a list of patients scheduled for imaging based on the imaging order information. When a patient to be imaged is selected and operated by the imaging engineer among the patients displayed in the list, imaging order information corresponding to the selected patient is displayed (step S1).
In the present embodiment, the following explanation will be given on the assumption that the imaging order information instructs the imaging of MRI and CC in each of the left and right breast regions for one patient.

  The imaging engineer confirms the patient to be imaged, the imaging region, and the imaging direction based on the imaging order information displayed on the control device 30 and goes to the imaging room where the imaging device 10 is installed with the cassette c for the number of imaging times. Moving. Then, the cassette c is mounted on the photographing table 6 of the photographing apparatus 10. At this time, the cassette c is mounted so that the ID part c1 displayed on the cassette c matches the reading position of the ID reading part 3f on the photographing apparatus 10 side.

  In the imaging device 10, the ID portion c1 of the cassette c attached by the ID reading portion 3f is read (step S2). If the reading cannot be performed normally, it is determined that the cassette c is disposed in the wrong direction, and a warning is given to the effect that the cassette c is erroneously mounted. The photographer corrects the mounting direction of the cassette c and remounts the cassette c in response to the warning. As described above, for the cassette ID reading process, any cassette c is always set on the imaging stand 6 in the same direction.

  When the ID section c1 of the cassette c attached by the ID reading section 3f is normally read, the imaging apparatus 10 is ready for imaging, so that the imaging engineer places the patient who is the subject at the imaging position and sets the imaging target. After adjusting the imaging part and the imaging direction, an imaging instruction operation is performed via the operation unit of the imaging apparatus 10. In the imaging apparatus 10, X-ray irradiation is performed in accordance with an imaging instruction, and imaging is performed (step S3).

  When the photographing is completed, in the photographing apparatus 10, the right / left discrimination information and the direction discrimination information are generated by the control unit 3a based on the information such as the rotation angle detected by the rotation detection unit 8 at the time of shooting (step S4). In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which a determination code is generated by combining left / right determination information and direction determination information. The discrimination code is generated according to the rules shown in FIG. That is, when MLO imaging is performed, a rotation angle is generated, so the sign of the rotation angle is either “+” for right breast imaging or “−” for left breast imaging, and the angle is around 45 degrees. It is. On the other hand, in the case of CC, since the rotation angle does not occur so much, the rotation angle is around 0 degree.

  Therefore, in the control unit 3a, based on the detection information from the rotation detection unit 8, if the rotation angle is 30 degrees to 60 degrees, the imaging direction is determined to be MLO, and if the sign of the rotation angle is “+”, the right side A discrimination code “RM” indicating that MLO imaging has been performed on the breast is generated. If the sign of the rotation angle is “−”, a discrimination code “LM” indicating that MLO imaging has been performed on the left breast is generated. On the other hand, if the rotation angle is 0 to 30 degrees, the shooting direction is determined to be CC, and a determination code “C” indicating only that shooting has been performed in the CC shooting direction is generated. That is, the left and right discrimination information and the direction discrimination information are generated as discrimination codes in the MLO shooting, but only the direction discrimination information is generated in CC shooting because the left and right of the breast that has been shot cannot be determined. .

  When the discrimination code is generated, the communication unit 3d transmits the discrimination code and the cassette ID information read in step S2 to the control device 30 (step S5). Note that it is not necessary to generate and transmit a discrimination code for all four shots, and if there is a discrimination code for at least two shots, it is possible to perform both left and right discrimination of the imaging breast and discrimination of the imaging direction. Alternatively, a determination code may be generated and transmitted only for two shootings.

  In this way, when imaging in one imaging direction is completed for either the left or right breast region, the imaging technician similarly performs the remaining 3 imaging operations. That is, imaging of one patient is continuously performed four times in total in the MLO and CC imaging directions for the left and right breasts. At this time, continuous imaging of either the left or right breast site increases the burden on the patient, and in order to avoid this, the imaging technician images the left and right breast sites alternately. In the imaging device 10, the processes of steps S2 to S5 are repeated. That is, a discrimination code is generated for each photographing and is transmitted to the control device 30 together with the cassette ID information.

  When all imaging for one patient is completed, the imaging technician loads each cassette c on which a breast image is recorded by imaging into the reading device 50 and performs an instruction operation to start reading. Note that since the cassette ID is also read by the reading device 50, the cassette c is loaded with the one side where the ID portion c1 of the cassette c is provided leading. In the reading device 50, as in the case of the photographing device 10, when the cassette ID cannot be read normally, a warning of erroneous loading is performed.

  In the reading device 50, when the cassette c is loaded, reading of the breast image is started from the loaded cassette c. The cassette ID is also read from the ID section c1 of the cassette c. When the reading is completed, information such as the reading conditions of the image and the reading conditions of the image are written in the header of the read breast image. Then, the breast image is transmitted to the control device 30 (step S7). This process is performed every time the cassette c is loaded.

  In the control device 30, when all the breast images for one patient that are instructed to perform imaging by the imaging order information from the reading device 50 are input from the reading device 50 (step s8; Y), the image of step S9 is displayed. The save process is executed.

The flow of the image saving process will be described with reference to FIG.
In the image saving process shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 31 first determines the order of imaging of each acquired breast image (step S91). The imaging order of the breast images is determined based on the cassette ID attached to the breast image and the input order of the cassette ID input from the imaging apparatus 10 for each imaging. For example, shooting is performed using four cassettes c issued with sequential numbers of cassette IDs “1001” to “1004”, and shooting is performed in the order of “1004”, “1003”, “1002”, “1001”. When a cassette ID is input from the apparatus 10, it is determined that the input order of the cassette ID is the shooting order.

  Next, the left and right of the breast in each breast image are discriminated based on the discrimination code for one radiograph among the radiographs of each breast image (step S92). The discrimination code is used to discriminate between the left and right breasts with reference to any one of the four shots. However, when the discrimination code is “C”, the left and right breasts cannot be discriminated, so “RM” or “ Refer to the discrimination code “LM”. That is, if the discrimination code is “RM”, it is discriminated as the right breast, and if it is “LM”, it is discriminated as the left breast.

When the left and right breasts are determined for a certain radiography, the breasts are taken alternately to the left and right to avoid the burden on the patient. Can be determined. Hereinafter, this determination method will be specifically described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 14 is a diagram in which breast images are arranged in order of imaging.
Of the four breast images shown in FIG. 14, for example, when the discrimination code “RM” in imaging order 2 is extracted, it is determined that the breast image in imaging order 2 is the right breast. Therefore, it is determined that the imaging in the imaging order 1 and 3 is performed on the left breast and the imaging in the imaging order 4 is performed on the right breast.

  When the left and right of the breast imaged for each breast image are determined, the imaging direction of each breast image is then determined based on the determination codes for two images (step S93). The discrimination code for two shootings may be for any shooting. If the discrimination code for two shootings is “RM” or “LM”, the shooting direction is determined to be MLO, and if “C”, the shooting direction is determined to be CC. In the example of FIG. 14, for example, when the imaging codes 2 and 3 are referred to and the imaging order 2 matches “RM” and the imaging order 3 matches “LM”, It is determined that the remaining breast images in the imaging order 1 and 4 are in the CC imaging direction, which are in the MLO imaging direction.

In this way, when the left and right and imaging directions of the breasts of each breast image are determined, the respective breast images and the imaging directions are so matched that the determination result and the left and right and imaging directions of the breasts defined in the imaging order information are matched. Correlation with order information is performed. The associated imaging order information is written in the header area of the breast image, attached to the breast image, and stored and stored in the image memory 36 (step S94). When the saving is finished, all the processes are finished.
At the same time as the association, an image in which each breast image is formatted according to its left and right breasts or the imaging direction is generated and displayed for comparative interpretation, for example, as in the method described in JP-A-2002-158862. It is good as well.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the left and right and imaging directions of the breasts in a plurality of breast images obtained for one patient can be easily determined by the determination code generated from the rotation state of the imaging unit 1 at the time of imaging. can do. In particular, for CC breast images, the left and right of the breast cannot be determined from the rotation angle of the imaging unit 1, but according to the present embodiment, the left and right of the breast are previously determined for all breast images, and then 2 By determining the imaging direction for imaging, all imaging directions are determined from the relationship between the left and right sides of the breast and the imaging direction, so that it is possible to automate the determination of the left and right breasts for CC breast images.

  In addition, the imaging order information corresponding to the breast image can be determined from the left and right of the determined breast and the imaging direction, and the imaging order information can be easily and accurately obtained without complicated registration of the technician. The image management can be performed in association with each other.

  Also, the left / right discrimination information and the direction discrimination information indicated by the discrimination code can be stored as a history of shooting contents in each shooting.

In addition, embodiment mentioned above is a suitable example to which this invention is applied, and is not limited to this.
For example, if the discrimination code can be acquired for at least one shooting if the left and right breasts are determined, and if at least two shootings are acquired if the shooting direction is determined, the left and right and shooting directions of the breasts can be determined for all the breast images. Although it is possible to make a determination, it is also possible to acquire determination codes for all the imaging and determine the left and right breasts and the imaging direction based on the determination codes for each imaging.

  Moreover, although the case where 4 imaging | photography is performed by CC and MLO about the left and right breasts was demonstrated, this invention is applicable also when performing 2 imaging | photography in one direction of CC or MLO about the left and right breasts. In this case, it is only necessary to obtain a discrimination code for one shooting.

  Further, in the above description, since the determination of the right and left breasts is based on the premise that the imaging order of the breast images is known, the cassette ID is assigned to the imaging apparatus 10 and the reading apparatus in order to determine the imaging order of each breast image. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration as long as the order of taking breast images can be determined. For example, under a workflow in which the cassette c used for photographing is immediately loaded into the reading device 50 and reading is performed every time photographing is performed, the order in which breast images are input from the reading device 50 to the control device 30 is the photographing order. It can be judged that. Therefore, reading the cassette ID is not essential and cassette registration is not necessary.

  In addition, when the FPD is used instead of the cassette c, a breast image is read for each photographing, and therefore, a discrimination code is attached to the data of the read breast image and transmitted to the control device 30. Therefore, since the determination code is directly associated with the breast image, the determination process of the imaging order of the breast image becomes unnecessary. That is, the order in which the breast images are input to the control device 30 matches the imaging order.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the control device 30 automatically determines the left and right and the imaging direction of the breast imaged from the discrimination code. However, in MLO and CC, the shape of the breast that appears in the breast image is considerably large. Since there is a difference, the imaging engineer can visually determine the imaging direction from the breast image. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, each breast image obtained once by imaging is displayed in the order of imaging, and the imaging engineer can visually check the displayed breast image and can input whether it is MLO or CC. Also good. In this case, as long as the left and right breasts can be determined by the control device 30, the imaging direction can be determined from the operation input of the engineer, so only one imaging code is required.

  For example, when the imaging direction of each breast image—the left and right sides of the breast are “MLO-L”, “MLO-R”, “CC-L”, and “CC-R” in the imaging order, the operation screen as shown in FIG. d1 is displayed. In this operation screen d1, breast images are arranged in the order of photographing from the left. For each breast image, a region k1 for displaying the photographing direction and the left and right of the breast, and a button k2 for inputting that the photographing direction is MLO. It is displayed. Here, when only the discrimination code of the breast image in the imaging order 2 is input to the control device 30, the right and left breasts of each breast image can be discriminated from the discrimination code, and the discrimination result is displayed on the display region k1. Has been. Further, since it can be determined that the imaging direction is MLO only for the breast image g2 in the imaging order 2, the display result is displayed. The imaging technician can visually determine that the breast image g1 is in the imaging direction MLO among the displayed breast images g1, g3, and g4, and operates the MLO instruction button k2 for the breast image g1. The control device 30 can determine that the imaging direction of the remaining breast images g3 and g4 is CC according to the operation.

It is a figure which shows the breast image image | photographed alternately about the right and left breasts. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the mammography system in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the imaging device of FIG. It is a figure explaining the detection of the rotation state in the imaging | photography part of an imaging device. It is a side view of an imaging device. It is a side view of an imaging device at the time of applying a contrast phase method. It is a figure which shows the imaging stand and cassette of an imaging device. It is a figure which shows the functional structure of the main-body part of an imaging device. It is a figure which shows the functional structure of the control apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the imaging | photography order information memorize | stored in a control apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the process in a mammography system. It is a figure which shows the example of a production | generation rule of a discrimination code. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the process performed by a control apparatus. It is a figure explaining the discrimination method of the right and left of the breast in a breast image, and an imaging direction. It is a figure explaining another Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Mammography system 10 Imaging device 1 Imaging part 6 Imaging stand 8 Rotation detection part 3a Control part 30 Control apparatus 31 Control part 351 Imaging order table 50 Reading apparatus

Claims (7)

In a breast imaging system for imaging a breast region with an imaging device and an image detector,
When the left and right breasts of one subject are photographed alternately in a plurality of photographing directions, left / right discrimination information is generated that indicates which of the plurality of photographings the left and right breasts are photographed for at least one of the photographings. Information generating means for
Discriminating means for discriminating left and right breasts in each breast image obtained from the image detector by the plurality of imaging based on the generated left / right discrimination information;
A breast imaging system characterized by comprising: The information generation means generates direction determination information indicating a shooting direction for at least two of the plurality of shootings;
The breast image capturing system according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines a capturing direction in each breast image obtained from the image detector by the plurality of capturing based on the direction determining information. . The imaging apparatus is a mammography apparatus in which an imaging unit for imaging a breast is configured to be rotatable,
The mammography system according to claim 1, wherein the left / right discrimination information is generated according to a rotation direction of an imaging unit of the mammography apparatus. The imaging apparatus is a mammography apparatus in which an imaging unit for imaging a breast is configured to be rotatable,
The mammography system according to claim 2, wherein the direction determination information is generated according to a rotation angle of an imaging unit of the mammography apparatus. Order storage means for storing imaging order information in which the left and right of the breast to be imaged are defined;
An image for storing the imaging order information in association with each breast image based on the determination result of the left and right breasts for each breast image by the determination unit and the information on the left and right breasts determined by the imaging order information. Storage means;
The mammography system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: Order storage means for storing imaging order information in which the right and left of the breast to be imaged and the imaging direction are determined;
Based on the determination result of the left and right breasts and the imaging direction for each breast image by the determination means and the information on the left and right breasts and the imaging direction of the breast determined by the imaging order information, the imaging order information is added to each breast image. Image storage means for storing in association;
The breast image capturing system according to claim 2, further comprising:   The mammography system according to any one of claims 2, 4, and 6, wherein the information generation unit generates direction determination information for imaging in an oblique direction.

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