JP2001078996A - Three-dimensional tomographic image interpreting method, automatic collation method, its device, and record medium recording its program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To present slice images of the body in the same position to a doctor in a short time by collating a diagnosis image with a comparative image photographed in a different time, compensating a slice position based on deviation of a projection image, and displaying the diagnosis image and the comparative image in the compensated position on a monitor. SOLUTION: At first, a diagnosis image column and a comparative image column are inputted (S1). Then, resolutions of the both images are conformed (S2) and the projection images of the respective diagnosis image and the comparative image are formed (S3, S4). A template for searching the projection image of the comparative image is formed from the projection image of the diagnosis image (S5), and pattern matching is performed (S6). In the last, Z-axial deviation is measured in the projection image of the comparative image and the slice position of the comparative image column is compensated by the deviation matching with the diagnosis image column (S7). The diagnosis image and the comparative image in the compensated slice position are displayed on a display of an image comparing and interpreting system (S8).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slice for comparing and interpreting a certain three-dimensional tomographic image such as a computed tomography (CT) image with another three-dimensional tomographic image of the same object photographed at different times. The present invention relates to an automatic image matching method and apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the medical field, comparative interpretation of past and present images is based on whether the shadows appearing in the images are tumors,
This is a clue in determining whether or not it is malignant. A doctor performs comparative reading by a method of finding and viewing a comparison image at a position corresponding to a suspicious shadow in a diagnostic image. Techniques for assisting doctors in performing comparative image interpretation in this manner include the “slice image automatic matching method for chest 3D tomographic images” (Japanese Patent Application No. 10-53172).
"Comparative reading system using helical CT images for mass screening"
(Ukai et al., Proceedings of JAMIT Frontier'98, pp14
0-145, Medical Imaging Engineering Research Group).

[0003]

However, the conventional slice image automatic collation technique of the chest three-dimensional tomographic image is a method of collating a slice of a comparative image corresponding to each slice of a diagnostic image, and is a method of collating a body. Although it was possible to follow the change in the state and the displacement of the lower lung due to breathing, it took a long time to perform the automatic verification process because a corresponding slice was searched for each slice. In addition, the above-mentioned conventional "comparison reading system using helical CT images for inspection"
Is a technology that extracts features such as lung field section classification, lung field area, heart area, descending aorta, etc., and performs automatic matching using the features as reference positions. there were.

[0004] Therefore, when a doctor attempts to make a diagnosis by comparing chest three-dimensional tomographic images, it takes time to see the automatically collated comparison image. Alternatively, it was necessary to perform collation in advance before the actual diagnosis after imaging. In this case, all images need to be collated, so it is necessary to collate even normal images, which takes extra time.

An object of the present invention is to automatically collate slice images at the same position of the body from two sets of three-dimensional tomographic images of the same person's chest and the like at a high speed and to present them to a doctor in a short time. An object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional tomographic image interpretation method, an automatic collation method and an apparatus thereof, and a recording medium recording a program for executing the procedure of the method.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a first embodiment having a slice plane having a body section in the X and Y directions and a first image sequence having a body axis in the Z direction. Diagnostic image, which is one slice image of the three-dimensional tomographic image of the second, and one of the second three-dimensional tomographic images taken at another time.
A method of collating and displaying a comparison image that is one slice image, a step of inputting a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and a slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image, Generating a first projected image from the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image, and generating a second projected image from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image; and In the image of the shadow image, using the range in which the predetermined target image is reflected as a template, searching for the same area as the template on the second projected image by matching,
The step of measuring the displacement between the first projected image and the second projected image, the step of correcting the slice position from the measured displacement of the first projected image and the second projected image, and Displaying a diagnostic image and a comparative image at a slice position on a monitor.

According to the present invention, since a projected image of a diagnostic image and a comparative image is used, a shift can be detected at high speed.
It is possible to display the diagnostic image and the comparative image in which the displacement of the slice position is corrected in a short time on the monitor.

[0008] The present invention is also directed to a slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a slice plane having a body section in the X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in the Z axis direction. A diagnostic image, a method of comparing a comparison image that is one slice image of the second three-dimensional tomographic image taken at another time, a method of displaying, the slice of the first three-dimensional tomographic image The process of inputting the image sequence and the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image, and when the resolutions of the input first and second slice image sequences are different, to match the resolution, one or both A process of correcting the image of the slice image sequence by scaling, and a first 3
Generating a first projected image from the slice image sequence of the two-dimensional tomographic image, and generating a second projected image from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image having undergone the correction process; and In the image of the projected image, a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected is used as a template, and the template is shifted at regular intervals on the second projected image to search for the same area as the template by matching, and the Measuring the amount of deviation between the first projected image and the second projected image; and
The process of performing correction of the slice position from the amount of deviation of the projected image and the second projected image and the process of displaying a diagnostic image and a comparative image at the corrected slice position, a comparative reading method characterized by having is there.

The present invention is also directed to a slice plane of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a slice plane having a body section in the X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in the Z axis direction. A diagnostic image, a method of comparing a comparison image that is one slice image of the second three-dimensional tomographic image taken at another time, the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and The step of inputting the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image, and when the resolution of the input first and second slice image sequence is different, in order to match the resolution, one or both of the slice images A process of correcting the image of the row by scaling, and a first projected image is generated from a slice image row of the first three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction, and a second 3D that has passed through the correction Generating a second projected image from a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image. In the image of the first projected image, a region where a predetermined target image is reflected is used as a template, and the template is shifted at a fixed interval on the second projected image to match the same region as the template. By searching, the step of measuring the amount of deviation between the first projected image and the second projected image, and correcting the slice position from the measured amount of deviation between the first projected image and the second projected image. And a step of performing automatic matching of slice images of a three-dimensional tomographic image.

In the process of generating the projection image, 3
Pixel value of a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image (for example, CT
(A density value in the case of an image, a density value) in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, or any other direction, to generate a projected image having a pixel value.

According to these methods, the shift between the diagnostic image and the comparative image is automatically and quickly detected, and the shift of the comparative image is corrected, so that the automatic comparison of the slice images can be performed at high speed. It becomes possible.

In the process of generating the projected image, 3
Pixel value of a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image (for example, CT
Value, density value in the image) in the X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, or any other direction, generate a two-dimensional image sequence having pixel values, and then interpolate the two-dimensional image sequence in the Z-axis direction. To generate a projected image.

According to this method, automatic matching of slice images having a high matching degree can be realized.

Further, in the above method, the range of the template is a range of 25% to 50% from the upper end in the Z-axis direction in the image of the first projected image. This makes it possible to perform pattern matching efficiently. In particular, the effect is great when the target site is the lung.

Further, the present invention provides a slice plane of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a slice plane having a body section in the X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in the Z axis direction. A diagnostic image, a method of comparing a comparison image that is one slice image of the second three-dimensional tomographic image taken at another time, the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and The step of inputting the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image, and when the resolution of the input first and second slice image sequence is different, in order to match the resolution, one or both of the slice images The process of correcting the image of the row by scaling, and the first three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction process and the second three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction process have taken any direction of the body cross section in the Y-axis direction. Recognize the reference position on the Y axis when the A step of correcting a displacement in the Y-axis direction based on the position, and a first X-axis direction perpendicular to the corrected Y-axis direction from a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image having undergone the correction step. Generating a projected image of a second X-axis direction perpendicular to the corrected Y-axis direction from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image that has undergone the correction process, In the image of the first projected image, a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected is used as a template, and the template is shifted at regular intervals on the second projected image to search for the same region as the template by matching. Measuring the amount of deviation between the first projected image and the second projected image, and correcting the slice position from the measured amount of deviation between the first projected image and the second projected image And

A first 3D image having a slice plane having a body section in the X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having the body axis in the Z axis direction is provided.
A diagnostic image that is one slice image of the two-dimensional tomographic image and a second three-dimensional tomographic image taken at another time.
A method for comparing a comparison image that is one slice image, a step of inputting a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and a slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image, When the resolutions of the first and second slice image sequences are different from each other, in order to match the resolution, a process of enlarging or reducing the image of one or both of the slice image sequences, and a first process that has undergone the correction process A projection image in the first X-axis direction perpendicular to the Y-axis direction when an arbitrary direction of the body section is set as the Y-axis direction from the slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image of Generating a second X-axis projected image perpendicular to the Y-axis direction from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image; and generating a Y-axis projected image from the first projected image and the second projected image. , And based on the reference position, the deviation in the Y-axis direction is Correcting, and using, as a template, a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected in the image of the first projected image in which the Y-axis direction is corrected, the second projected image in which the Y-axis direction is corrected. A step of searching the same area as the template by shifting the template at a constant interval by matching, and measuring a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image, and the measured first Correcting the slice position from the amount of deviation between the projected image and the second projected image.In the step of generating the projected image, the pixel value of the slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image is provided. (E.g., a CT value, a density value in an image) is added in the X-axis direction to generate a two-dimensional image sequence having a pixel value, and then interpolate the two-dimensional image sequence to generate a projected image. And

In the process of recognizing the reference position and correcting the displacement in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position, the reference position is obtained from a first three-dimensional tomographic image and a second three-dimensional tomographic image. Or a bed area is extracted from the first projected image and the second projected image, and the Y-axis direction when a direction perpendicular to the bed surface with respect to the bed surface of the extracted bed area is defined as a Y-axis direction. It is characterized by correcting the deviation of.

In the step of recognizing the reference position and correcting the displacement in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position, the reference position is determined from a first three-dimensional tomographic image and a second three-dimensional tomographic image. Or, from the first projection image and the second projection image, recognize a contact portion of the body region with the bed, and define a direction perpendicular to the contact portion with respect to the recognized contact portion of the body region with the bed as Y. It is characterized in that a shift in the Y-axis direction when it is set in the axial direction is corrected.

In the process of recognizing the reference position and correcting a displacement in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position, the reference position is determined from a first three-dimensional tomographic image and a second three-dimensional tomographic image. Or, the spine portion is recognized from the first projection image and the second projection image, and the direction perpendicular to the spine portion with respect to the position of the recognized spine portion is defined as the Y-axis direction. It is characterized in that the displacement is corrected.

According to these methods, the shift between the diagnostic image and the comparative image is automatically and quickly detected, and the shift of the comparative image is corrected, so that the automatic comparison of the slice images can be performed at high speed. It becomes possible. Further, by correcting the displacement of the Y axis on the basis of a bed, a characteristic part of the body, or the like, the search range is narrowed, so that the amount of calculation is reduced.

In the process of generating the projection image, a window level and a window width are set,
It is characterized in that a projected image is generated by weighting a specific observation target (for example, bone or lung tissue).

According to this method, the degree of collation is high for a specific observation target such as bone or lung tissue, and high-speed automatic collation of slice images can be realized.

Further, in the process of generating the projection image, a projection image is generated by projecting only the vicinity of a portion having a certain feature.

According to this method, the range in which the projected image is generated and the search range are narrowed, so that high-speed and high-speed automatic matching of slice images can be realized for the identified observation target.

In the step of measuring the shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image, a plurality of templates are generated from the first projected image, and a second template is generated for the plurality of templates.
The template matching is performed on the projected image of (1), and the shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image is measured from a plurality of reference points.

According to this method, automatic matching of slice images having a high matching degree can be realized, and in particular, it is possible to correct a displacement of the lower lung due to lung breathing.

Further, the present invention provides a slice plane of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a slice plane having a body section in the X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in the Z axis direction. A diagnostic image and a comparison image, which is a slice image of one of the second three-dimensional tomographic images taken at another time, is a device for displaying and displaying a slice of the first three-dimensional tomographic image. Image input means for inputting an image sequence and a slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image, and generating a first projected image from the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image; Projection image generation means for generating a second projection image from a slice image sequence of a two-dimensional tomographic image, and template creation means for creating, as a template, a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected in the image of the first projection image The same area as the template on the second projected image Searching by matching, matching means for measuring the amount of shift between the first projected image and the second projected image, and the slice position from the measured amount of shift between the first projected image and the second projected image. A three-dimensional tomographic image reading apparatus, comprising: a slice position correcting means for performing correction; and a display means for displaying a diagnostic image and a comparative image at the corrected slice position on a monitor.

According to the present invention, the shift between the diagnostic image and the comparative image can be automatically and quickly detected, and the diagnostic image and the comparative image after correcting the shift can be displayed on the monitor in a short time.

Further, the present invention is directed to a slice plane of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a slice plane having a body section in the X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in the Z axis direction. A diagnostic image and a comparison image, which is a slice image of one of the second three-dimensional tomographic images taken at another time, is a device for displaying and displaying a slice of the first three-dimensional tomographic image. Image input means for inputting an image sequence and a slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image; and
When the resolution of the second slice image sequence is different from that of the second slice image sequence, a resolution matching unit that scales and corrects one or both images of the slice image sequence to match the resolution, and a first unit from the resolution matching unit. Projection image generation means for generating a first projection image from the slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image, and generating a second projection image from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching means, In the image of the first projected image, a template creating means for creating a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected as a template, and the template by shifting the template at a fixed interval on the second projected image. Searching the same area by matching, matching means for measuring the amount of deviation between the first projected image and the second projected image, and from the measured amount of deviation between the first projected image and the second projected image Slice position And a means for displaying a diagnostic image and a comparative image at the corrected slice position.

A first three-dimensional image having a slice plane whose body section is in the X- and Y-axis directions and an image sequence whose body axis is in the Z-axis direction is provided.
A diagnostic image that is one slice image of the two-dimensional tomographic image and a second three-dimensional tomographic image taken at another time.
An apparatus for comparing a comparison image that is one slice image, an image input unit that inputs a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and a slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image, When the resolutions of the input first and second slice image sequences are different, a resolution matching unit that scales and corrects one or both images of the slice image sequence to match the resolution, and the resolution matching unit. First from
Projection image generating means for generating a first projected image from the slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image of the second, and generating a second projected image from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching means Template creating means for creating, as a template, a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected in the image of the first projected image, and shifting the template at a predetermined interval on the second projected image. Matching means for searching for the same area as the matching, measuring the amount of deviation between the first projected image and the second projected image, and the amount of deviation between the measured first projected image and the second projected image And a slice position correcting means for correcting the slice position from the first position.

According to this device, the shift between the diagnostic image and the comparative image is automatically and quickly detected, and the shift of the comparative image is corrected, so that the slice images can be automatically collated at high speed. Becomes

A first 3D image having a slice plane whose body section is in the X and Y axis directions and an image sequence whose body axis is in the Z axis direction is also provided.
A diagnostic image that is one slice image of the two-dimensional tomographic image and a second three-dimensional tomographic image taken at another time.
An apparatus for comparing a comparison image that is one slice image, an image input unit that inputs a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and a slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image, When the resolutions of the input first and second slice image sequences are different, a resolution matching unit that scales and corrects one or both images of the slice image sequence to match the resolution, and the resolution matching unit. First from
Three-dimensional tomographic image and the second 3
Reference position recognizing means for recognizing a reference position on the Y-axis when an arbitrary direction of the body cross section is set to the Y-axis direction from the three-dimensional tomographic image, and a first three-dimensional image from the resolution matching means based on the reference position. Y-axis shift correcting means for correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction between the tomographic image and the second three-dimensional tomographic image, and the corrected Y-axis from the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching means. A projection image in the first X-axis direction perpendicular to the direction is generated, and the second X-axis perpendicular to the corrected Y-axis direction is obtained from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching means. Projection image generation means for generating a projection image in the axial direction, template creation means for creating, as a template, a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected in the image of the first projection image, and projection image generation means for the second projection image. Above the template is shifted at regular intervals Matching means for searching for the same region as the template by matching, and measuring a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image, and a shift between the measured first projected image and the second projected image. And a slice position correcting means for correcting the slice position from the amount.

A first 3D image having a slice plane having a body section in the X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having the body axis in the Z axis direction is provided.
A diagnostic image that is one slice image of the two-dimensional tomographic image and a second three-dimensional tomographic image taken at another time.
An apparatus for comparing a comparison image that is one slice image, an image input unit that inputs a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and a slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image, When the resolutions of the input first and second slice image sequences are different, a resolution matching unit that scales and corrects one or both images of the slice image sequence to match the resolution, and the resolution matching unit. First from
A first X-axis projected image perpendicular to the Y-axis direction is generated from the slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image, and the Y-axis projection image is formed from the second three-dimensional tomographic image slice image sequence from the resolution matching unit. Projection image generating means for generating a projection image in the second X-axis direction perpendicular to the direction, and when any direction of the body cross section is defined as the Y-axis direction from the first projection image and the second projection image Of Y
Reference position recognizing means for recognizing a reference position on an axis, Y-axis shift correcting means for correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction between the first projected image and the second projected image based on the reference position, Template creating means for creating, as a template, a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected in the image of the first projected image in which the Y-axis direction is corrected;
On the projected image of the above, the template is shifted at a fixed interval, and the same region as the template is searched by matching,
A matching unit that measures a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image, and a slice position that corrects a slice position from the measured shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image. Correction means.

According to these devices, the shift between the diagnostic image and the comparative image is automatically and quickly detected, and the shift of the comparative image is corrected, so that the automatic comparison of the slice images can be performed at high speed. It becomes possible. Furthermore, by correcting the displacement of the Y axis on the basis of a bed, a characteristic body part, or the like, the search range is narrowed, and the amount of calculation is reduced.

According to the present invention, a program for causing a computer to execute the steps in the three-dimensional tomographic image reading method, the comparative reading method, and the slice image automatic matching method is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. It is characterized by.

According to this recording medium, it is possible to store or distribute a program for performing processing according to the procedure of the method of the present invention as a recording medium, and to execute the method of the present invention using a computer system. It can be realized.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the following embodiment, it is assumed that a current and a past image are compared for a chest X-ray CT image sequence for lung cancer screening.

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the X, Y, and Z axes in a CT image according to this embodiment. As shown in (b), the X and Y axis directions are slice planes of a body section such as the chest,
As shown in (a), the moving direction of the patient couch is defined as the Z-axis direction. The chest X-ray CT image for lung cancer screening is imaged using the helical scan CT of (a), and one slice image having a body section of the chest in the X and Y axis directions has a slice thickness in the Z axis direction. Information is included. The number of images to be photographed is 25 to 30 per person.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a projected image.
(A) shows a projection direction, (b) shows a projection image obtained by adding all CT values (density values in an image) and projecting in the X-axis direction shown in (a), and (c) shows a projection image in (a). A projected image obtained by adding all CT values (density values in an image) and projecting them in the Y-axis direction is shown. In the present embodiment, a projected image in the Y-axis direction is used as an example.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an example of the configuration of a comparative image reading apparatus for a chest CT image according to this embodiment.

A file 1 stores a tomographic image (diagnosis image) of the chest taken this year, and a file 2 stores a tomographic image (comparative image) of the chest taken in the past.
Reference numeral 3 denotes an image in which a projected image is generated from the file 1, and reference numeral 4 denotes an image in which a projected image is generated from the file 2. Two files
In the CT image sequences stored in 1 and 2, slices are shifted due to a difference in imaging position, deformation of a lung due to respiration, and the like. Reference numeral 5 denotes a computer system for automatically collating a slice image sequence of file 1 with a slice image sequence of file 2 by computer processing and displaying the same.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the comparative CT image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment.

This apparatus is configured by connecting a tomographic image reading device 12, a mouse 13, a keyboard 14, and a monitor 15 to a terminal device 11. The terminal device 11 includes a device control unit.
111 and slice image automatic matching function unit 112 for 3D tomographic images
The 3D tomographic image slice image automatic matching function unit 112 includes a 3D tomographic image slice image automatic matching function / control unit 112-1 that controls the execution of processing in the following units in order. , An operation input unit 112-2 for connecting the mouse 13 and the keyboard 14 to perform an operation input, and a tomographic image external input unit 112- for inputting a tomographic image from the tomographic image reading device 12.
3, resolution matching processing unit 112-4, projected image generation processing unit 112-
5, template creation processing unit 112-6, matching processing unit 1
12-7, slice position correction processing section 112-8, and monitor 15
Display processing unit 112 for displaying a diagnostic image and a comparative image
-9 is connected, and includes a diagnostic image sequence file 112-10, a comparative image sequence file 112-11, and a corrected image sequence file 112-12 of the comparative image. Here, the tomographic image external input unit 112-3 writes the diagnostic image sequence file 112-10, and the resolution matching processing unit 112-4 performs the diagnostic image sequence file 112-10 and the comparison image sequence file 112-11. And a corrected image sequence file 112-1 of the comparative image.
Then, the projection image generation processing unit 112-5 and the display processing unit 112-9 read from the diagnostic image sequence file 112-10 and the corrected image sequence file 112-12 of the comparison image.

Further, a MIDI device 16 such as a pedal, a dial, and a slider is connected to the operation input unit 112-2. This MIDI
With the device, it is possible to finely adjust the position in the Z-axis direction of the body section displayed on the monitor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for supporting the comparative interpretation of images.
Depending on the software installed on the computer in Fig. 3,
Alternatively, by each processing unit of the image comparison image reading apparatus of FIG. 4,
It is a flowchart which shows the procedure for measuring a shift | offset and displaying the diagnostic image and the comparative image of the same position. Note that, in the case of the image comparison image reading apparatus of FIG. 4, a processing unit that executes a procedure described below is indicated by (). A description will be given along this flowchart.

In FIG. 5, first, as step 1,
Slice image sequence in which the diagnostic image sequence f _Z (x, y) and, for effective image input slice image sequence in which comparative image sequence g _Z (x, y) (a tomographic image external input unit 112-3).

Here, in step 2, if the resolution of the diagnostic image and the resolution of the comparative image are different, a resolution matching process in which the comparative image is enlarged and reduced by a three-dimensional interpolation method or a linear interpolation method to correct the diagnostic image. (Resolution matching processing section 112-4).

Next, in step 3, a projected image is created for each of the diagnostic image and the comparative image (projected image generation processing unit 112-5).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process of generating a projected image of a diagnostic image.

First, a process of adding a Y-axis direction to a three-dimensional diagnostic image composed of pixel densities on the XY plane to create a two-dimensional image composed of pixel densities on the X-axis is performed by an image sequence (slice). Image sequence). That is, when the size of the slice image in the Y-axis direction is YSIZE, a projection image d ₁ (x, x) of the diagnostic image in the Z-axis direction is calculated using a value added in the Y-axis direction as in the following equation (1). z) is calculated.

D ₁ (x, z) = (Σ _{y = 0} ^YSIZE f _z (x, y)) / YSIZE (1) Then, discrete values are obtained based on a linear interpolation method or a three-dimensional interpolation method. Create an almost continuous image sequence from the diagnostic image sequence,
A three-dimensional projected image of a diagnostic image composed of pixel densities on the XZ plane is created. In this process, in the case of computer processing,
It cannot handle completely continuous functions. Therefore, based on the linear interpolation method or the three-dimensional interpolation method, c
A substantially continuous image sequence at 1 mm intervals is created from an image sequence photographed at m-order intervals, and a three-dimensional projected image of a diagnostic image composed of pixel densities on the XZ plane is created. That is, when a projected image is created from an added image sequence of diagnostic images, the resolution in the X-axis direction and the resolution in the Z-axis direction are different, so the Z-axis direction is interpolated based on a linear interpolation method or a three-dimensional interpolation method. It should be noted that the use of the linear interpolation method is advantageous in that processing can be performed at high speed, but when performing interpolation based on the three-dimensional interpolation method, the following equation (2) is used.
Interpolate using (3).

[0055] _{d (x 0, z 0)} ≡Σ k Σ 1 d (x k, z 1) c (x k -x 0) c (z 1 -z 0) ... (2)

[0056]

(Equation 1) Next, in step 4 (FIG. 5), a projection image of the comparison image is generated in the same manner as described above. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process of generating a projection image of the comparison image.

First, a corrected image of a three-dimensional comparative image composed of pixel densities on the XY plane (image subjected to resolution matching processing)
Is performed on the corrected image sequence (slice image sequence) by adding the Y-axis direction to the image data and generating a two-dimensional corrected image composed of pixel densities on the X-axis. That is, when the size of the slice image in the Y-axis direction is YSIZE, an added image sequence d ₂ (x , z).

D ₂ (x, z) = (Σ _{y = 0} ^YSIZE g _z (x, y)) / YSIZE (4) Then, a discrete comparison image is obtained based on a linear interpolation method or a three-dimensional interpolation method. , A substantially continuous image sequence is created from the added image sequence, and a three-dimensional projected image composed of pixel densities on the XZ plane is created. Since this process is a computer process, a completely continuous function cannot be handled. Therefore, cm in the Z-axis (body axis) direction based on a linear interpolation method, a three-dimensional interpolation method, or the like.
A substantially continuous image sequence is created at intervals of 1 mm from an image sequence photographed at order intervals, and a three-dimensional projected image of a comparative image composed of pixel densities on the XZ plane is created. That is, when creating a projected image from the added image sequence of the corrected comparative image,
Since the resolutions in the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction are different, the Z-axis direction is interpolated based on a linear interpolation method or a three-dimensional interpolation method.
Here, it is advantageous to use the linear interpolation method in the same manner as described above in that the processing can be performed at high speed. However, when performing interpolation based on the three-dimensional interpolation method, the interpolation is performed using the above equations (2) and (3). .

When the three-dimensional projected image of the diagnostic image and the comparative image is created, not only the linear interpolation method and the three-dimensional interpolation method but also the nearest neighbor method can be used in the Z-axis direction. It is possible. In addition, the order of processing the above-described diagnostic image and comparative image does not matter. That is, the processing of the comparison image may be performed first, and the processing of the diagnostic image may be performed later. Also, the addition processing of the CT values of both image sequences in the projection direction may be performed first, and then both interpolation processings may be performed. As a method of creating a three-dimensional projection image of the diagnostic image and the comparison image, a slice image sequence of mm intervals is generated by interpolating an actual slice image sequence of cm intervals, and the three-dimensional projection image is added by adding these. Although there is a method of generating a shadow image, as in the present embodiment example, the slice image sequence is first added,
Interpolation of the image sequence added later enables faster processing.

Next, in step 5 of the flow shown in FIG. 5, a template for searching for the projected image of the comparative image is created from the projected image of the diagnostic image (template generating processing unit 112).
-6). FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of template pattern matching when a projected image in the Y-axis direction is used.

In the example of FIG. 8, in the vicinity of the upper aortic arch of the diagnostic image (25% to 50% from the upper end of the Z axis), the range in which the lung is shown in the X axis direction (10% to 90% from the left end of the X axis) Is generated as a rectangular template. Generally, in the projected image of the diagnostic image, the Z-axis direction is A% to B% (A, B∈ [0, 100]) from the upper end of the Z-axis in the range where the observation target image is reflected, and the X-axis The direction is also from the left end of the X axis in the range where the observation target image is reflected.
U% to V% (U, V∈ [0, 100]) are generated as a rectangular template.

When the diagnostic image is a lung, the following pattern matching can be efficiently performed by using a template in the range of 25% to 50% from the upper end of the Z-axis of the diagnostic image as described above. . In general, it is preferable to determine the range of the template in a range where the texture is relatively clear and the variation due to breathing or the like is small.

Next, pattern matching is performed (step 6). That is, the center of the template on the projected image of the comparison image is set to (50−25) /2=12.5% to 10% in the Z-axis direction.
Up to 0-12.5 = 87.5%, (90-10) / 2 =
Pattern matching is performed while shifting from 40% to 100−40 = 60% in units of several mm, and the same area as the template in the comparison image is searched. In general, the center of the template on the projected image of the comparative image is (BA) / 2% to 100- (BA) / 2% in the Z-axis direction and (-X) in the X-axis direction. Pattern matching is performed while shifting at predetermined intervals from V−U) / 2% to 100− (V−U) / 2% (matching processing unit 112-7).

Finally, as step 7, when the same region as the template in the comparative image is detected, the amount of displacement in the Z-axis direction in the projected image of the comparative image is measured, and the amount of the displacement is compared with the amount of deviation in accordance with the diagnostic image sequence. The slice position of the column is corrected (slice position correction processing unit 112-8). Then, as step 8, the diagnostic image and the comparative image at the corrected slice position are displayed on the display of the monitor (monitor 15) of the image comparative image reading system of FIG. 3 or the image comparative image reading apparatus of FIG. 9).

After the information is displayed on the display of the monitor, detailed positioning can be performed using the above-described MIDI device such as the pedal, dial, and slider. That is,
It is possible to adjust the upper and lower positions of the diagnostic image and the comparative image, respectively. After the alignment is completed, both images can be synchronized to display a slice image. In other words, terminal operation in image interpretation work
By using a MIDI device, operations can be performed efficiently.

In the present embodiment, the direction in which the projected image is created is not limited to the Y-axis direction, but may be the X-axis direction.
Other arbitrary directions can be applied. In addition, the example in which the comparison image is scaled and corrected to match the resolution has been described. However, the diagnosis image may be scaled and corrected, or both the diagnosis image and the comparison image may be scaled and corrected. It does not matter.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described.

Assume that a current and a past image are compared for a chest X-ray CT image sequence for lung cancer screening.

In the present embodiment, X,
The definitions of the Y and Z axes are the same as in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 1B, the X and Y axis directions are defined as slice planes of the body section such as the chest, and as shown in FIG. 1A, the moving direction of the patient couch is defined as the Z axis direction. The chest X-ray CT image for lung cancer screening is captured using the helical scan CT in (a), and one slice image having the body section of the chest in the X and Y axis directions has a slice thickness in the Z axis direction. Information is included. The number of images to be photographed is 25 to 30 per person.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing an example of a projected image in the X-axis direction used in this embodiment. FIG. 9A shows the projected direction, and FIG. 9B shows the projected image in the X-axis direction shown in FIG. A projection image is shown in which all CT values (density values in an image) are added and projected.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a comparative image reading apparatus for chest CT images according to this embodiment.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a file storing the tomographic image of the chest taken this year, and reference numeral 22 denotes a file storing the tomographic image of the chest taken in the past. Reference numeral 23 denotes an image in which a projected image in the X-axis direction is generated from the file 21, and reference numeral 24 denotes an image in which a projected image in the X-axis direction is generated from the file 22. Two files 2
In the CT image sequence stored in 1, 22, the slice is shifted due to a difference in imaging position, deformation of the lung due to respiration, and the like. 25, the slice image sequence of the file 21 is automatically collated with the slice image sequence of the file 22 by computer processing,
A computer system to display.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the comparative CT image reading apparatus according to this embodiment.

The present apparatus is configured by connecting a tomographic image reading device 32, a mouse 33, a keyboard 34, and a monitor 35 to a terminal device 31. The terminal device 31 includes a device control unit.
Automatic slice image comparison function 312 for 311 and 3D tomographic images
The 3D tomographic image slice image automatic matching function unit 312 includes a 3D tomographic image slice image automatic matching function / control unit 312-1 that controls the execution of processing in the following units in order. , A mouse 33 and a keyboard 34 connected to perform an operation input and an operation input unit 312-2 for inputting a tomographic image from the tomographic image reading device 32.
3, resolution matching processing unit 312-4, image bed position extraction unit 312
-5, a diagnostic image and comparative image shift correction processing unit 312-6, a projected image generation processing unit 312-7, and a template creation processing unit 312-, which correct the shift between the diagnostic image and the comparative image based on the couch position.
8, matching processing unit 312-9, slice position correction processing unit 3
A display processing unit 3112-11 for displaying a diagnostic image and a comparative image on the monitor 12-10 and the monitor 35 is connected, and a diagnostic image sequence file 312-12, a comparative image sequence file 312-13, and a correction of the comparative image. And an image sequence file 312-14. Here, the tomographic image external input unit 312-3 stores the diagnostic image sequence file
312-12, and the resolution matching processing unit 312-
4 is a diagnostic image sequence file 312-12 and a comparative image sequence file
In addition to reading from the reference image 312-13, writing to the corrected image sequence file 312-14 of the comparative image is performed, and the couch position extracting unit 312-5 of the image, the misalignment correcting unit 31 for the diagnostic image and the comparative image are read.
2-6, Projected image generation processing unit 312-7 and display processing unit 312-11
Reads from the diagnostic image sequence file 312-12 and the comparison image corrected image sequence file 312-14.

The operation input unit 312-2 has the above-mentioned MIDI
Device 36 is connected.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for supporting the comparative reading of images.
Depending on the software installed on the computer in Fig. 10,
Alternatively, by each processing unit of the image comparison image reading apparatus of FIG. 11,
It is a flowchart which shows the procedure for measuring a shift | offset and displaying the diagnostic image and the comparative image of the same position. Note that, in the case of the image comparison image reading apparatus of FIG. 11, a processing unit that executes the procedure described below is indicated by ().

In FIG. 12, first, steps 11 and 12
, The diagnostic image sequence f _z (x, y) and the comparison image sequence g _z (x, y)
Is input (external tomographic image input unit 312-3).

If the resolution of the diagnostic image is different from the resolution of the comparative image, a resolution matching process is performed in step 13 in which the comparative image is enlarged and reduced in accordance with the three-dimensional interpolation method or the linear interpolation method to correct the diagnostic image. (Resolution matching processing section 312-4).

Next, as steps 14 and 15, a couch region is extracted from each of the first diagnostic image and the comparative image (the couch position extracting unit 312-5 of the image). Then, as a step 16, the deviation in the Y-axis direction between the diagnostic image and the comparative image is corrected by using the direction perpendicular to the extracted couch position as the Y-axis direction with reference to the extracted couch position (the deviation correction process between the diagnostic image and the comparative image). Part 312-6). The bed area is shown in FIG.

Next, in steps 17 and 18, a projected image in the X-axis direction is created with the corrected direction perpendicular to the Y-axis direction as the X-axis direction (projected image generation processing unit 312-7). As the projected image, when the size of the slice image in the X-axis direction is XSIZE, a value added in the X-axis direction as in the following equations (5) and (6) is used. The projected image of the diagnostic image in the X-axis direction is d ₁ (y, z),
The projected image in the X-axis direction of the comparison image sequence is d ₂ (y, z).

D ₁ (y, z) = (Σ _{x = 0} ^XSIZE f _z (x, y)) / XSIZE (5) d ₂ (y, z) = (Σ _{x = 0} ^XSIZE g _z ( x, y)) / XSIZE ... (6) Also, when creating a projected image, the resolution of the Y-axis direction differs from that of the Z-axis direction in the image for examination, so the Z-axis direction is linearly interpolated or three-dimensionally interpolated. Interpolate based on the method. The interpolation method in the Z-axis direction at this time can use not only the linear interpolation method or the three-dimensional interpolation method but also the nearest neighbor method.

Next, as step 19, as shown in FIG. 14, the vicinity of the upper pulmonary aortic arch in the diagnostic image (25 degrees from the upper end of the Z axis).
% To 50%), and a rectangular template is created for the range in which the lungs are projected in the Y-axis direction (10% to 90% from the left end of the axis). In step 20, matching is performed while shifting the center of the template on the tomographic image of the comparison image in units of several mm in the Z-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and the same area as the template in the comparison image is searched. When the same area is detected, as step 21, the shift amount in the projected image Z-axis direction is measured, and the slice position of the comparison image sequence is corrected by the shift amount in accordance with the diagnostic image sequence. The image is displayed on the display of the monitor (monitor 35) of the image comparison reading system or the image comparison reading apparatus of FIG. Thereafter, as described above, detailed positioning can be performed using a MIDI device.

Also in the second embodiment, pattern matching can be efficiently performed by using a template in the range of 25% to 50% from the upper end of the Z axis.

(Third Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 13B, the couch region can be extracted after a projected image is generated. Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a couch region is extracted after generating a projected image will be described as a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a comparative image reading apparatus for chest CT images according to this embodiment. The comparative image reading apparatus for chest CT images according to the present embodiment can also be configured by a computer system as in FIG.

In FIG. 15, the present device is connected to a terminal device 41,
A tomographic image reader 42, a mouse 43, a keyboard 44,
And a monitor 45 are connected. Terminal device 41
Is composed of a device control unit 411 and a slice image automatic matching function unit 412 of a three-dimensional tomographic image, and the slice image automatic matching function unit 412 of the three-dimensional tomographic image sets the execution of processing in the following units in order. A mouse 43 and a keyboard 44 are provided to the slice image automatic collation function / control unit 412-1 of the three-dimensional tomographic image to be controlled.
, An operation input unit 412-2 for performing a repetitive input by connecting a tomographic image, a tomographic image external input unit 412-3 for inputting a tomographic image from the tomographic image reading device 42, a resolution matching processing unit 412-4, and a projected image generation processing unit 412-5, an image couch position extraction unit 412-6, a diagnostic image and comparison image deviation correction processing unit 412-7 that corrects a deviation between the diagnostic image and the comparative image based on the couch position, and a template creation processing unit 412- 8, a matching processing unit 412-9, a slice position correction processing unit 412-10, and a display processing unit 412-11 for displaying a diagnostic image and a comparative image are connected to the monitor 45. , Comparison image sequence file 412-13
And a corrected image sequence file 412-14 of the comparison image. Here, the tomographic image external input unit 412-3 writes the diagnostic image sequence file 412-12, and the resolution matching processing unit 412-4 performs the diagnostic image sequence file 412-12 and the comparison image sequence file 412-13. While reading from the corrected image sequence file 412-14 of the comparison image,
The projection image generation processing unit 412-5 and the display processing unit 412-11 read from the diagnostic image sequence file 412-12 and the corrected image sequence file 412-14 of the comparison image.

The operation input unit 412-2 is provided with the MIDI
The device 46 is connected.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for supporting comparative reading of images.
When configuring the image comparison and reading apparatus by a computer system as shown in FIG. 10, by software installed on the computer, or by each processing unit of the image comparison and reading apparatus of FIG. 15, the deviation is measured, and a diagnostic image at the same position, It is a flowchart which shows the procedure for displaying a comparative image. Note that, in the case of the image comparison image reading apparatus of FIG. 15, a processing unit that executes a procedure described below is indicated by ().

In steps 31 and 32 of FIG. 16, first, a diagnostic image sequence f _z (x, y) and a comparison image sequence g _z (x, y) are input (external tomographic image input unit 412-3).

If the resolution of the diagnostic image is different from that of the comparative image, in step 33, a resolution matching process is performed in which the comparative image is enlarged and reduced in accordance with the three-dimensional interpolation method or the linear interpolation method in accordance with the diagnostic image. (Resolution matching processing section 412-4).

Next, in steps 34 and 35, a projected image in the X-axis direction is created (projected image generation processing unit 412-7).
As the projected image, when the size of the slice image in the X-axis direction is XSIZE, a value added in the X-axis direction as in the following equations (7) and (8) is used. Let the projected image of the diagnostic image in the X-axis direction be d ₁ (y,
z), the projected image in the X-axis direction of the comparison image sequence is d ₂ (y, z).

D ₁ (y, z) = (Σ _{x = 0} ^XSIZE f _z (x, y)) / XSIZE (7) d ₂ (y, z) = (Σ _{x = 0} ^XSIZE g _z ( x, y)) / XSIZE ... (8) Also, when creating a projected image, the resolution of the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction are different in the image for examination, so the linear interpolation method or the three-dimensional interpolation of the Z-axis direction Interpolate based on the method. The interpolation method in the Z-axis direction at this time can use not only the linear interpolation method or the three-dimensional interpolation method but also the nearest neighbor method.

Next, in steps 36 and 37, a couch region is extracted from the projected image of each of the diagnostic image and the comparative image (image couch position extracting unit 412-5), and the couch position is extracted based on the extracted couch position. The orthogonal direction is defined as the Y-axis direction, and in step 38, the deviation in the Y-axis direction between the diagnostic image and the comparative image is corrected (the deviation correction processing unit 4 for the diagnostic image and the comparative image).
12-6). The bed area is shown in FIG.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14, at step 39, the vicinity of the upper aortic arch of the diagnostic image (25% from the upper end of the Z axis)
~ 50%), Y-axis direction is the area where the lung is shown (from the left end of the axis)
10% to 90%) to create a rectangular template. Then, in step 40, matching is performed while shifting the center of the template on the tomographic image of the comparison image by a unit of several mm in the Z-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and the same area as the template in the comparison image is searched. When the same area is detected, in step 41, the shift amount in the Z-axis direction of the projected image is measured, and the slice position of the comparative image sequence is corrected by the shift amount in accordance with the diagnostic image sequence. Of the image comparison and reading system of FIG. 15 or the monitor of the image comparison and reading device of FIG.
45) Display on the display. After that, as described above, it is also possible to use a MIDI device to perform detailed positioning or to display both images by moving them vertically while synchronizing them.

Also in the third embodiment, the pattern matching can be efficiently performed by using the template in the range of 25% to 50% from the upper end of the Z axis.

In the second and third embodiments, as a reference for correcting the shift in the Y-axis direction between the diagnostic image and the comparative image,
In addition to the couch region, other characteristic regions such as a spine region or a contact portion of the body region with the couch can be used.

In the first to third embodiments, when a projected image of a diagnostic image and a projected image of a comparative image are generated,
Instead of setting the expression density of the image to the density gradation from the 0 gradation to the maximum gradation of the actual CT image, the window level (center density value) and the window width (center density) of the mediastinum condition where the bones can be seen well. Generates a tomographic image that weights the bones by setting it to (density width from the value), and performs matching using this to realize automatic slice image matching with a high degree of matching of the bone part Can be. Similarly, by setting the window level and the window width of the lung field condition in which the lung tissue can be clearly seen, a tomographic image weighted to the lung tissue is generated, and matching is performed using the generated tomographic image. It is possible to realize automatic slice image matching with a high degree of matching of parts. Note that the MIDI device described above can be used for setting the window level and the window width.

Further, in the first to third embodiments, an example has been described in which the comparative image is scaled up and corrected in order to match the resolutions of the diagnostic image and the comparative image. However, the diagnostic image is scaled up and down. Or the correction may be performed by enlarging or reducing both the comparative image and the diagnostic image.

In the first to third embodiments, the chest X
Although a line CT image has been described as an example, the present invention
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a three-dimensional tomographic image other than a CT image, as well as to a three-dimensional tomographic image.

In the first to third embodiments, when a projected image of a diagnostic image and a projected image of a comparative image are generated,
A projection image is generated by adding only a portion where a specific portion having a certain feature exists in a predetermined direction, and matching is performed using the generated image, thereby realizing high-speed high-speed slice image automatic matching of the specific portion. be able to.

In the first to third embodiments, when measuring the amount of deviation between the projected image of the diagnostic image and the projected image of the comparative image, a plurality of templates are generated from the projected image of the diagnostic image. Perform template matching on the projected image of the comparison image for multiple templates, and
By measuring the amount of shift between the two projected images, the slice position can be accurately corrected, and the degree of collation can be increased. In particular, in the case of comparing and collating the lower part of the lung, it is possible to correct the deviation due to the respiration of the lung.

Further, in the first to third embodiments,
5, 6, 7, FIG. 12, FIG. 16, the procedure of the process can be executed by a computer as described above, a computer program for that, a computer-readable recording medium, for example, , FD (floppy disk), MO, ROM, memory card, CD, DVD, removable disk, etc., and the recording medium can be provided or distributed.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the computer system. The computer system includes a CPU 500 for executing processing, a memory 501 for storing programs and data, and a memory 50.
1 or the CPU 500, a hard disk 502 for storing programs and data, a display 503 for displaying data, a keyboard 504 for inputting data or instructions, a CD-ROM drive 505, and communication with other computer systems via a network. And a communication processing device 506. The program is loaded on the hard disk 502 via the CD-ROM drive 505, and when the program is started,
It is executed by the CPU 500. The computer system enables comparative reading of diagnostic images by the method of the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified and applied within the scope of the claims.

[0105]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the comparative image reading apparatus of the present invention, a slice image at the same position of the body can be automatically and rapidly obtained from two sets of three-dimensional chest tomographic images of the same person. And present it to the doctor in a short time.
This has the effect of eliminating the need for labor and extra storage area for collation in advance. Further, by setting the range of the template to the range of 25% to 50% from the upper end of the Z axis, pattern matching can be performed efficiently, and positioning can be performed quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of X, Y, and Z axes in a chest CT image according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing an example of a projected image that can be used in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of a comparative image reading apparatus for chest CT images according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration example of the comparative CT image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of a method for automatically checking a slice of a chest CT image according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of generating a projected image of a diagnostic image according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of generating a projected image of a comparative image according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a template pattern matching method in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a projected image in the X-axis direction according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a comparative image reading apparatus for chest CT images according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of a comparative image reading apparatus for chest CT images according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing flow according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a reference point for correcting displacement in the Y-axis direction.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a template pattern matching method in the second and third embodiments.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a comparative image reading apparatus for chest CT images according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing flow according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a computer system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 21 File of current year 2, 22 File of previous year 3, 23 Projection image of diagnostic image generated from file of this year 4, 24 Projection image of comparative image generated from file of previous year 5, 25 Computer system 11 , 31, 41 Terminal device 12, 32, 42 Tomographic image reading device 111, 311, 411 Device control unit 112, 312, 412 Slice image automatic matching function unit for three-dimensional tomographic image 112-1, 312-1, 412-1 Automatic slice image collation function / control unit for three-dimensional tomographic image 112-2, 312-2, 412-2 Operation input unit 112-3, 312-3, 412-3 External tomographic image input unit 112-4, 312-4 412-4 Resolution matching processing unit 112-5, 312-5, 412-5 Projected image generation processing unit 112-6, 312-8, 412-8 Template creation processing unit 112-7, 312-9, 412-9 Matching processing unit 112-8, 312-10, 412-10 Slice position correction processing unit 112-9, 312-11, 412-11 Display processing unit 112- 10, 31-12, 412-12 Diagnostic image sequence file 112-11, 312-13, 412-13 Comparative image sequence file 112-12, 312-14, 412-14 Comparative image correction image sequence file 13, 33, 43 mouse 14, 34, 44 keyboard 15, 35, 45 monitor 16, 36, 46 MIDI device 312-5, 412-6 couch position extractor 312-6, 412-7 Misalignment correction group between diagnostic image and comparative image

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yuichi Fujino 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Sakuichi Otsuka 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 1 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Co., Ltd. (72) Koji Ogawa 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hitomi Sato, Tokyo No.3-1, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Harumi Kawashima, Inventor 2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-Term, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation 4C093 AA22 CA29 CA50 FF12 FF13 FF36 FF38 5B057 AA09 BA06 BA24 CA02 CB08 CC04 CD05 CE09 DA08 DA16 DB02 DC19 DC32 5L096 AA09 BA06 CA24 EA14 EA27 EA28 FA38 FA69 JA09 9A001 HH24 HH29 KK25 KK37 KK42

Claims (40)

[Claims] 1. A diagnostic image which is a slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction. , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A method of collating and displaying a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
A step of inputting a slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image, and generating a first projected image from the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image, from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image A step of generating a second projected image, and in the image of the first projected image, using a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected as a template, matching the same area as the template on the second projected image By searching, the step of measuring the amount of deviation between the first projected image and the second projected image, and correcting the slice position from the measured amount of deviation between the first projected image and the second projected image A method for interpreting a three-dimensional tomographic image, comprising: performing a step of performing; and displaying a diagnostic image and a comparative image at the corrected slice position on a monitor. 2. A diagnostic image, which is a slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction, and , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A method of collating and displaying a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
The process of inputting a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image, and, when the resolution of the input first and second slice image sequences is different, in order to match the resolution, one or both images of the slice image sequence A step of correcting by enlarging and reducing, a first projected image is generated from a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction step, and a second three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction step A step of generating a second projected image from the slice image sequence, and, in the image of the first projected image, as a template a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected, the template on the second projected image The same area as the template is searched for by shifting at a constant interval by matching, a step of measuring a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image, and the measured first projected image. From the shift amount of the second projected image, the slice position A comparative image reading method, comprising: performing a correction and displaying a diagnostic image and a comparative image at the corrected slice position. 3. A diagnostic image, which is a slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction, and , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A method of collating and displaying a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
The process of inputting a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image, and, when the resolution of the input first and second slice image sequences is different, in order to match the resolution, one or both images of the slice image sequence A process of correcting by enlarging and reducing the first three-dimensional tomographic image after the process of the correction and a second three-dimensional tomographic image after the process of the correction from the arbitrary direction of the body section as the Y-axis direction A step of recognizing a reference position on the Y-axis at the time and correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position; and performing the correction from the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction step. A first X-axis projected image perpendicular to the Y-axis direction is generated, and a second image orthogonal to the corrected Y-axis direction is obtained from a slice image sequence of a second three-dimensional tomographic image that has undergone the correction process. Generating a projected image in the X-axis direction of the first projected image; In the image, using the range in which the predetermined target image is shown as a template, the template is shifted at a fixed interval on the second projected image, and the same area as the template is searched for by matching. A step of measuring a shift amount between the image and the second projected image; a step of correcting a slice position from the measured shift amount of the first projected image and the second projected image; and Displaying a comparative diagnostic image and a comparative image. 4. A diagnostic image, which is a slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction, and , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A method of collating and displaying a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
The process of inputting a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image, and, when the resolution of the input first and second slice image sequences is different, in order to match the resolution, one or both images of the slice image sequence And correcting when the arbitrary direction of the body cross section is set to the Y-axis direction from the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction process.
Generating a projected image in a first X-axis direction perpendicular to the axial direction,
Generating a second X-axis projected image perpendicular to the Y-axis direction from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image that has undergone the correction process; andthe first projected image and the second projected image. Recognizing a reference position in the Y-axis from the projected image of the above, and correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position; and in the image of the first projected image in which the Y-axis direction is corrected, Using the range in which the target image is reflected as a template, the template is shifted at a fixed interval on the second projected image in which the Y-axis direction is corrected, and the same region as the template is searched for by matching. Measuring the displacement between the projected image and the second projected image, correcting the slice position from the measured displacement between the first projected image and the second projected image, and correcting the slice. Displaying the diagnostic image at the position and the comparative image. Comparative reading method comprising. 5. A diagnostic image, which is a slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction, and , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A method for collating a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
The process of inputting a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image, and, when the resolution of the input first and second slice image sequences is different, in order to match the resolution, one or both images of the slice image sequence A step of correcting by enlarging and reducing, a first projected image is generated from a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction step, and a second three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction step A step of generating a second projected image from the slice image sequence, and, in the image of the first projected image, as a template a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected, the template on the second projected image The same area as the template is searched for by shifting at a constant interval by matching, a step of measuring a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image, and the measured first projected image. From the shift amount of the second projected image, the slice position Correcting the slice image of the three-dimensional tomographic image. 6. The method for automatically collating a slice image of a three-dimensional tomographic image according to claim 5, wherein, in the step of generating a projected image, a pixel value of a slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image is determined in an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction, A slice image automatic matching method for a three-dimensional tomographic image, wherein a projection image having a pixel value obtained by adding values in all other arbitrary directions is generated. 7. The method for automatically collating a slice image of a three-dimensional tomographic image according to claim 5, wherein, in the step of generating a projected image, the pixel value of the slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image is determined in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction. After generating a two-dimensional image sequence whose pixel value is a value obtained by adding all of the values in any other direction,
A slice image automatic matching method for a three-dimensional tomographic image, wherein a projected image is generated by interpolating a three-dimensional image sequence. 8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the range of the template is 25% to 50% of an upper end in the Z-axis direction in the image of the first projection image. A slice image automatic matching method for a three-dimensional tomographic image, wherein the method is a range. 9. A diagnostic image, which is one slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction, and , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A method for collating a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
The process of inputting a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image, and, when the resolution of the input first and second slice image sequences is different, in order to match the resolution, one or both images of the slice image sequence A process of correcting by enlarging and reducing the first three-dimensional tomographic image after the process of the correction and a second three-dimensional tomographic image after the process of the correction from the arbitrary direction of the body section as the Y-axis direction A step of recognizing a reference position on the Y-axis at the time and correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position; and performing the correction from the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction step. A first X-axis projected image perpendicular to the Y-axis direction is generated, and a second image orthogonal to the corrected Y-axis direction is obtained from a slice image sequence of a second three-dimensional tomographic image that has undergone the correction process. Generating a projected image in the X-axis direction of the first projected image; In the image, using the range in which the predetermined target image is shown as a template, the template is shifted at a fixed interval on the second projected image, and the same area as the template is searched for by matching. Measuring a shift amount between the image and the second projected image, and correcting a slice position from the measured shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image, Automatic matching method for slice images of 3D tomographic images. 10. A diagnostic image, which is one slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction, and , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A method for collating a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
The process of inputting a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image, and, when the resolution of the input first and second slice image sequences is different, in order to match the resolution, one or both images of the slice image sequence And correcting when the arbitrary direction of the body cross section is set to the Y-axis direction from the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction process.
Generating a projected image in a first X-axis direction perpendicular to the axial direction,
Generating a second X-axis projected image perpendicular to the Y-axis direction from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image that has undergone the correction process; andthe first projected image and the second projected image. Recognizing a reference position in the Y-axis from the projected image of the above, and correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position; and in the image of the first projected image in which the Y-axis direction is corrected, Using the range in which the target image is reflected as a template, the template is shifted at a fixed interval on the second projected image in which the Y-axis direction is corrected, and the same region as the template is searched for by matching. Measuring a shift amount between the projected image and the second projected image, and correcting the slice position based on the measured shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image. Automatic slice image matching method for 3D tomographic images, characterized by the following. 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein, in the step of generating a projected image, a value obtained by adding all pixel values of a slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image in the X-axis direction. And generating a projected image by interpolating the two-dimensional image sequence after generating a two-dimensional image sequence having a pixel value of as a pixel value. 12. The method for automatically collating a slice image of a three-dimensional tomographic image according to claim 9, wherein the step of recognizing a reference position and correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position is performed as the reference position. A couch region is extracted from a first three-dimensional tomographic image and a second three-dimensional tomographic image or from a first projected image and a second projected image, and the couch surface is extracted based on the couch surface of the extracted couch region. A slice image automatic matching method for a three-dimensional tomographic image, wherein a shift in the Y-axis direction when a direction perpendicular to the Y-axis direction is set to the Y-axis direction is corrected. 13. The automatic slice image collating method for a three-dimensional tomographic image according to claim 9, wherein the step of recognizing a reference position and correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position is performed as the reference position. From the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second three-dimensional tomographic image, or from the first projection image and the second projection image to recognize the contact portion with the bed of the body region, the bed of the recognized body region and Y when a direction perpendicular to the contact portion is defined as a Y-axis direction with respect to the contact portion of
An automatic slice image collation method for a three-dimensional tomographic image, wherein an axial displacement is corrected. 14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of recognizing a reference position and correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position is performed as the reference position. Recognizing a spine portion from a first three-dimensional tomographic image and a second three-dimensional tomographic image, or from a first projected image and a second projected image, the spine portion based on the position of the recognized spine portion and A slice image automatic matching method for a three-dimensional tomographic image, wherein a shift in a Y-axis direction when a direction forming a right angle is defined as a Y-axis direction is corrected. 15. The method for automatically collating a slice image of a three-dimensional tomographic image according to claim 5, wherein, in the step of generating a projected image, a window level and a window width are set to assign a weight to a specific observation target. A slice image automatic matching method for a three-dimensional tomographic image, characterized in that a projected image is generated. 16. The method according to claim 5, wherein, in the step of generating the projected image, a projected image is projected only in the vicinity of a portion having a certain characteristic. Automatic slice image collation method for three-dimensional tomographic images. 17. The method for automatically checking a slice image of a three-dimensional tomographic image according to claim 5, wherein the step of measuring a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image includes: Generate a plurality of templates, perform template matching on the second projected images for the plurality of templates, and measure a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image from a plurality of reference points. An automatic slice image matching method for three-dimensional tomographic images, characterized in that: 18. The method according to claim 9, wherein the range of the template is 25% to 50% from the upper end in the Z-axis direction in the image of the first projection image. An automatic slice image matching method for a three-dimensional tomographic image, characterized in that the range is within the range of%. 19. A diagnostic image which is a slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction. , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A device for comparing and displaying a comparison image as one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
Image input means for inputting a slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image, a first projected image is generated from the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image, and a slice image of the second three-dimensional tomographic image Projective image generating means for generating a second projected image from a column; template generating means for generating, as a template, a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected in the image of the first projected image; Matching means for searching the same area as the template on the shadow image by matching, and a matching means for measuring a shift amount between the first projection image and the second projection image, and the measured first projection image and a second projection image. A slice position correcting means for correcting a slice position based on a deviation amount of a projected image of the same, and a display means for displaying a diagnostic image and a comparative image at the corrected slice position on a monitor.
Two-dimensional tomographic image interpretation device. 20. A diagnostic image which is a slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction. , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A device for comparing and displaying a comparison image as one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
Image input means for inputting a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image, and when the input first and second slice image sequences have different resolutions, in order to match the resolution, one or both of the slice image sequences A resolution matching unit that scales and corrects the image of the first, a first projected image is generated from a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching unit, and a second projected image is generated from the resolution matching unit. Second from slice image sequence of 3D tomographic image
Projection image generation means for generating a projection image of, template creation means for creating a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected as a template in the image of the first projection image, and on the second projection image Matching means for searching the same area as the template by matching by shifting the template at a constant interval, and measuring a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image, and the measured first A comparative image reading apparatus comprising: a slice position correcting means for correcting a slice position based on a shift amount between a projected image and a second projected image; and a means for displaying a diagnostic image and a comparative image at the corrected slice position. apparatus. 21. A diagnostic image, which is one slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction. , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A device for comparing and displaying a comparison image as one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
Image input means for inputting a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image, and when the input first and second slice image sequences have different resolutions, in order to match the resolution, one or both of the slice image sequences Resolution matching means for scaling and correcting the image of the above; and, from the first three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching means and the second three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching means, select any direction of the body cross section from Y A reference position recognizing means for recognizing a reference position on the Y-axis when the direction is the axial direction; and a first three from the resolution matching means based on the reference position.
Y-axis shift correcting means for correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction between the two-dimensional tomographic image and the second three-dimensional tomographic image, and the corrected Y from the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching means. A projection image in the first X-axis direction perpendicular to the axial direction is generated, and a second image perpendicular to the corrected Y-axis direction is obtained from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching unit. Projection image generation means for generating a projection image in the X-axis direction; template creation means for creating, as a template, a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected in the image of the first projection image; and the second projection image A matching means for searching the same area as the template by matching by shifting the template at a fixed interval on the above, and measuring a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image; and First projection and second projection Comparative reading device for the shift amount and the slice position correcting means for correcting the slice position, characterized in that it has a means for displaying the diagnostic image and the comparative image in the slice position has been corrected. 22. A diagnostic image, which is a slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane with X and Y axis directions and an image sequence with a body axis as Z axis direction, , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A device for comparing and displaying a comparison image as one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
Image input means for inputting a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image, and when the input first and second slice image sequences have different resolutions, in order to match the resolution, one or both of the slice image sequences A resolution matching unit that scales and corrects the image, and a Y-axis direction when an arbitrary direction of a body section is defined as a Y-axis direction from a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching unit. A projection image in the first X-axis direction at a right angle is generated, and a projection image in the second X-axis direction at a right angle to the Y-axis direction from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching means. Projecting image generating means for generating; a reference position recognizing means for recognizing a reference position on the Y axis from the first projected image and the second projected image; and the first projected image based on the reference position. And the second projected image are displaced in the Y-axis direction. Axis deviation correcting means; template creating means for creating, as a template, a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected in the image of the first projected image whose Y-axis direction has been corrected; and wherein the Y-axis direction has been corrected. Matching means for shifting the template at a predetermined interval on the second projected image, searching for the same region as the template by matching, and measuring a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image. A slice position correction unit that corrects a slice position based on the measured shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image, and a unit that displays a diagnostic image and a comparative image at the corrected slice position. A comparative image reading apparatus, comprising: 23. A diagnostic image which is one slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a slice plane in which a body cross section is in the X and Y axis directions and an image sequence in which the body axis is in the Z axis direction. , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
An apparatus for comparing a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
Image input means for inputting a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image, and when the input first and second slice image sequences have different resolutions, in order to match the resolution, one or both of the slice image sequences A resolution matching unit that scales and corrects the image of the first, a first projected image is generated from a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching unit, and a second projected image is generated from the resolution matching unit. Second from slice image sequence of 3D tomographic image
Projection image generation means for generating a projection image of, template creation means for creating a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected as a template in the image of the first projection image, and on the second projection image Matching means for searching the same area as the template by matching by shifting the template at a constant interval, and measuring a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image, and the measured first An automatic slice image collating apparatus for a three-dimensional tomographic image, comprising: slice position correcting means for correcting a slice position based on a shift amount between a projected image and a second projected image. 24. A diagnostic image, which is one slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction, and , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
An apparatus for comparing a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
Image input means for inputting a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image, and when the input first and second slice image sequences have different resolutions, in order to match the resolution, one or both of the slice image sequences Resolution matching means for scaling and correcting the image of the above; and, from the first three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching means and the second three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching means, select any direction of the body cross section from Y A reference position recognizing means for recognizing a reference position on the Y-axis when the direction is the axial direction; and a first three from the resolution matching means based on the reference position.
Y-axis shift correcting means for correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction between the two-dimensional tomographic image and the second three-dimensional tomographic image, and the corrected Y from the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching means. A projection image in the first X-axis direction perpendicular to the axial direction is generated, and a second image perpendicular to the corrected Y-axis direction is obtained from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching unit. Projection image generation means for generating a projection image in the X-axis direction; template creation means for creating, as a template, a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected in the image of the first projection image; and the second projection image A matching means for searching the same area as the template by matching by shifting the template at a fixed interval on the above, and measuring a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image; and First projection and second projection A slice position correcting means for correcting the slice position from the shift amount,
An automatic slice image collating apparatus for a three-dimensional tomographic image, comprising: 25. A diagnostic image, which is one slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction, and , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
An apparatus for comparing a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
Image input means for inputting a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image, and when the input first and second slice image sequences have different resolutions, in order to match the resolution, one or both of the slice image sequences A resolution matching unit that scales and corrects the image, and a Y-axis direction when an arbitrary direction of a body section is defined as a Y-axis direction from a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching unit. A projection image in the first X-axis direction at a right angle is generated, and a projection image in the second X-axis direction at a right angle to the Y-axis direction from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image from the resolution matching means. Projecting image generating means for generating; a reference position recognizing means for recognizing a reference position on the Y axis from the first projected image and the second projected image; and the first projected image based on the reference position. And the second projected image are displaced in the Y-axis direction. Axis deviation correcting means; template creating means for creating, as a template, a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected in the image of the first projected image whose Y-axis direction has been corrected; and wherein the Y-axis direction has been corrected. Matching means for shifting the template at a predetermined interval on the second projected image, searching for the same region as the template by matching, and measuring a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image. A slice position correcting means for correcting a slice position based on a shift amount between the measured first projected image and the second projected image, a slice image automatic matching apparatus for a three-dimensional tomographic image, . 26. A diagnostic image, which is a slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction, and , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A computer-readable recording medium that records a program that causes a computer to execute a process of displaying and comparing a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
A procedure for inputting a slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image, and generating a first projected image from the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image, from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image A procedure for generating a second projected image, and, in the image of the first projected image, using a range in which a predetermined target image is reflected as a template, matching the same region as the template on the second projected image By searching, the procedure of measuring the amount of deviation between the first projected image and the second projected image, and correcting the slice position from the measured amount of deviation between the first projected image and the second projected image A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute a procedure to be performed and a process of displaying a diagnostic image and a comparative image at a corrected slice position on a monitor. 27. A diagnostic image, which is a slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction, and , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A computer-readable recording medium that records a program that causes a computer to execute a process of displaying and comparing a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
The procedure of inputting a slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image of, and, if the resolution of the input first and second slice image sequence is different, in order to match the resolution, one or both images of the slice image sequence A procedure for correcting by scaling up and down, and generating a first projected image from a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction procedure, and a second three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction procedure The procedure of generating a second projected image from the slice image sequence, in the image of the first projected image, as a template the range in which a predetermined target image is reflected, the template on the second projected image The same area as the template is searched by matching at a constant interval, and the procedure of measuring the shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image, and the measured first projected image From the shift amount of the second projected image, the slice position A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for performing a correction and a procedure for displaying a diagnostic image and a comparative image at the corrected slice position. 28. A diagnostic image, which is a slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction, and , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute a process of comparing a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
The procedure of inputting a slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image of, and, if the resolution of the input first and second slice image sequence is different, in order to match the resolution, one or both images of the slice image sequence A procedure for correcting by scaling up and down, and generating a first projected image from a slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction procedure, and a second three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction procedure The procedure of generating a second projected image from the slice image sequence, in the image of the first projected image, as a template the range in which a predetermined target image is reflected, the template on the second projected image The same area as the template is searched by matching at a constant interval, and the procedure of measuring the shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image, and the measured first projected image From the shift amount of the second projected image, the slice position A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute a correction procedure is recorded. 29. The recording medium according to claim 28, wherein in the step of generating a projected image, the pixel values of the slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image are all added in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, or any other direction. A computer-readable recording medium for generating a projected image having a value as a pixel value. 30. The recording medium according to claim 28, wherein, in the step of generating a projected image, all pixel values of a slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image are added in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, or any other direction. After generating a two-dimensional image sequence whose values are pixel values,
A computer-readable recording medium for generating a projected image by interpolating a two-dimensional image sequence. 31. The recording medium according to claim 28, wherein the range of the template is in a range of 25% to 50% from an upper end in the Z-axis direction in the image of the first projected image. Computer readable recording medium. 32. A diagnostic image, which is one slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction, and , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute a process of comparing a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
The procedure of inputting a slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image of, and, if the resolution of the input first and second slice image sequence is different, in order to match the resolution, one or both images of the slice image sequence A procedure for correcting by enlarging or reducing the first three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the procedure of the correction and an arbitrary direction of the body cross section from the second three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the procedure of the correction have been defined as the Y-axis direction. A step of recognizing a reference position on the Y-axis at the time, and correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position; and performing the correction from the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction procedure. A second X-axis direction perpendicular to the Y-axis direction is generated from a slice image sequence of a second three-dimensional tomographic image generated through a first X-axis direction orthogonal to the Y-axis direction, and subjected to the correction procedure. Generating a projected image in the X-axis direction of the image, and the first projected image In the image, using the range in which the predetermined target image is shown as a template, the template is shifted at a fixed interval on the second projected image, and the same area as the template is searched for by matching. Causing the computer to execute a procedure of measuring a shift amount between the image and the second projected image, and a procedure of correcting a slice position based on the measured shift amount of the first projected image and the second projected image. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded. 33. A diagnostic image which is a slice image of a first three-dimensional tomographic image having a body plane as a slice plane having X and Y axis directions and an image sequence having a body axis in Z axis direction. , One of the second 3D tomographic images taken at another time
A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute a process of comparing a comparison image that is one slice image, wherein the slice image sequence of the first three-dimensional tomographic image and the second
The procedure of inputting a slice image sequence of the three-dimensional tomographic image of, and, if the resolution of the input first and second slice image sequence is different, in order to match the resolution, one or both images of the slice image sequence And a procedure for correcting the size of the first three-dimensional tomographic image from the slice image sequence after the correction procedure.
Generating a projected image in a first X-axis direction perpendicular to the axial direction,
A step of generating a second X-axis projected image perpendicular to the Y-axis direction from the slice image sequence of the second three-dimensional tomographic image that has passed through the correction procedure, and the first projected image and the second projected image Recognizing a reference position in the Y-axis from the projected image of the above, and correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position; and determining a predetermined position in the image of the first projected image in which the Y-axis direction is corrected. Using the range in which the target image is reflected as a template, the template is shifted at a fixed interval on the second projected image in which the Y-axis direction is corrected, and the same region as the template is searched for by matching. A procedure for measuring the shift amount between the projected image and the second projected image, and a procedure for correcting the slice position from the measured shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image, Computer readable recording the program to be executed Recording medium. 34. The recording medium according to claim 32, wherein in the step of generating a projected image, the two-dimensional image having a value obtained by adding all pixel values of a slice image sequence of a three-dimensional tomographic image in the X-axis direction as a pixel value A computer-readable recording medium that generates a projected image by interpolating the two-dimensional image sequence after generating the sequence. 35. The recording medium according to claim 32, wherein in the step of recognizing a reference position and correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position, a first three-dimensional tomographic image and a From the second three-dimensional tomographic image, or extract the couch region from the first projection image and the second projection image, the direction perpendicular to the couch surface with respect to the couch surface of the extracted couch region is the Y axis A computer-readable recording medium that corrects a shift in the Y-axis direction when the direction is set. 36. The recording medium according to claim 32, wherein in the step of recognizing a reference position and correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position, a first three-dimensional tomographic image and a reference From the second three-dimensional tomographic image, or from the first projected image and the second projected image to recognize the contact portion of the body region with the bed, the contact with the recognized contact region of the body region with the bed as a reference Y when the direction perpendicular to the part is the Y-axis direction
A computer-readable recording medium for correcting axial displacement. 37. The recording medium according to claim 32, wherein in the step of recognizing a reference position and correcting a shift in the Y-axis direction based on the reference position, a first three-dimensional tomographic image and A spine portion is recognized from the second three-dimensional tomographic image or from the first projection image and the second projection image, and a direction perpendicular to the spine portion with respect to the position of the recognized spine portion is defined as a Y-axis direction. A computer-readable recording medium, which corrects a shift in the Y-axis direction when 38. The recording medium according to claim 28, wherein in the step of generating a projection image, a projection image in which a specific observation target is weighted is generated by setting a window level and a window width. A computer-readable recording medium characterized by the above-mentioned. 39. The computer-readable medium according to claim 28, wherein in the step of generating the projected image, the projected image is generated only in the vicinity of a portion having a certain characteristic. Possible recording medium. 40. The recording medium according to claim 28, wherein the step of measuring a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image includes generating a plurality of templates from the first projected image, Computer-readable by performing template matching on a second projected image for a plurality of templates, and measuring a shift amount between the first projected image and the second projected image from a plurality of reference points. Recording medium.