JP2007014483A - Medical diagnostic apparatus and diagnostic support apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medical diagnostic apparatus and diagnostic support apparatus which can quickly find an affected area by identifiably indicating the affected area in a lumen. <P>SOLUTION: Volume data are created from projection data acquired by photographing a subject with a modality, volume data of a target observation area (large intestine, etc.) are acquired from the created volume data, a candidate affected area is detected by calculating the rate of indention on the surface of the target observation area, and data presenting the candidate affected area are created. Further, an image which can identify the location of the candidate affected area is created from the volume data of the target observation area and the data presenting the candidate affected area, and the created image is displayed on a display section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical diagnostic apparatus and a diagnostic support apparatus that perform a diagnosis using a medical image obtained by imaging a subject, and in particular, a medical apparatus that can easily find a lesioned part existing in a lumen or the like. The present invention relates to a diagnosis device and a diagnosis support device.

  Conventionally, a tomographic image of a subject is taken using a medical diagnostic apparatus (or modality) such as an X-ray CT apparatus (X-ray computer tomography apparatus) or an MRI apparatus (magnetic resonance imaging apparatus) to diagnose a disease or the like. The image diagnosis to be performed is frequently used.

  In addition, in order to display the internal organs and the like of the subject in a three-dimensional manner, VR (volume rendering) for constructing an image three-dimensionally using the volume method, MPR (Multi Planer Reconstruction), A technique such as MIP (Maximum Intensity Projection) is used. An image reconstructed from data obtained by three-dimensional measurement is called a volume image, and a medical image can be presented to a user (doctor) more easily by VR image processing, thus greatly contributing to medical diagnosis. .

  In VR, a VR image on the surface of the large intestine can be displayed by displaying a region between air and soft tissue translucently with respect to reconstruction volume data acquired by an X-ray CT apparatus or the like. Furthermore, a technique called fly-through is also known in which a VE (virtual endoscope) method is used to simulate a three-dimensional image such as the surface of the large intestine with the same line of sight as the endoscope. Since morphological abnormalities of the lumen and surface of the intestinal wall can be examined without relying on an endoscope, it is used as a means for initial screening.

  Non-Patent Document 1 describes a processing method for medical three-dimensional images such as VR, MPR, MIP, and VE described above.

However, in a conventional medical diagnostic apparatus, when a diagnosis is made by displaying a VR image of the surface of the large intestine in order to find a lesion in the lumen such as a large intestine polyp, a long and complicated shape is rotated while rotating the VR image. It was necessary to observe whether there were protrusions on the surface of the large intestine, which was very laborious. In addition, even when using fly-through technology to search the colon lumen, it is necessary to observe whether there are protrusions on the long and complex shape of the colon surface while searching from the entrance to the exit of the colon. In this case, there is a problem that a quick diagnosis cannot be performed because it takes time and laborious time and time for diagnosis.
“I see! Three-dimensional medical image, tiger's volume of thinking and processing” November 5, 2003, published by Shujunsha

  In conventional medical diagnostic devices, in order to find lesions in lumens such as large intestine polyps, it is necessary to observe whether there are projections on the internal surface of a long and complex shape, which is very laborious and diagnostic. However, since it requires complicated work and time, there is a problem that quick diagnosis cannot be performed.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical diagnostic apparatus and a diagnosis support apparatus that can quickly find a lesioned part by displaying the lesioned part in the lumen in an identifiable manner.

    The medical diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises: means for creating volume data based on projection data obtained by imaging a subject; a data storage unit for storing the created volume data; A lesion portion data creating means for calculating a degree of unevenness of the surface of the region to detect a lesion portion candidate and creating data representing the lesion portion candidate; based on the volume data of the observation target region and the data representing the lesion portion candidate And an image generation unit that generates an image in which the position of the lesion candidate can be identified; and a display unit that can display the image generated by the image generation unit.

  A diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 6 of the present invention is a diagnosis support apparatus for performing diagnosis support using volume data created based on projection data obtained by imaging a subject, Lesion part data creating means for detecting the lesion part candidate by calculating the degree of unevenness of the surface of the observation target area and creating data representing the lesion part candidate; volume data of the observation target area and data representing the lesion part candidate And an image generation unit that generates an image in which the position of the lesion candidate can be identified, and the image generated by the image generation unit can be displayed on the display unit.

  According to the present invention, in order to find a lesion in a lumen, it is possible to easily identify whether or not there is an uneven portion that is a candidate for a lesion on a medical image. Since it is not necessary to observe the entire region, it is possible to provide a medical diagnostic apparatus and a diagnosis support apparatus that can easily find a lesion.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the medical diagnostic apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a tomography apparatus, which shows an X-ray CT apparatus as an example. The X-ray CT apparatus 10 has a gantry 11, and a rotating ring 12 is provided in the gantry 11 and is rotated by a rotating mechanism (not shown). An X-ray tube 13 and an X-ray detector 14 are disposed in the rotating ring 12 so as to face each other. The central portion of the rotating ring 12 is opened and placed on the couch top 15. A subject P is inserted.

 X-rays that have passed through the subject P are converted into electrical signals by the X-ray detector 14, amplified by the data acquisition unit 16, converted into digital data, and projection data is transmitted via the data transmission device 17. The gantry 11 is provided with a gantry driving unit 18 and an X-ray control unit 19.

 A computer system 20 sends data from the data transmission device 17 to the preprocessing unit 21. The preprocessing unit 21 performs processing such as signal intensity correction and signal loss correction, and outputs projection data onto the bus line 201. A system controller 22, an input unit 23 such as a keyboard, a data storage unit 24, a reconstruction processing unit 25, a data processing unit 26, an image display unit 27, and the like are connected to the bus line 201.

 The system controller 22 controls the operation of each part of the computer system 20 and the gantry driving unit 18 and the X-ray control unit 19, and the data storage unit 24 stores data such as tomographic images. The unit 25 reconstructs tomographic image data based on the projection data. The data processing unit 26 performs data processing after reconfiguration, the image display unit 27 displays medical images and the like, and the input unit 23 inputs information such as the patient's condition and examination method by the doctor. is there.

  FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration of the data processing unit 26, which includes a large intestine region data creation unit 261 (observation target region data creation unit), a surface normal vector calculation unit 262, a surface unevenness calculation unit 263, and a color. It comprises a data creation unit 264 and a VR image generation unit 265.

  Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. The data processing unit 26 operates in cooperation with the data storage unit 24, the reconstruction processing unit 25, and the display unit 27 under the control of the system controller 22. In this embodiment, for example, a case will be described in which diagnosis of the large intestine is performed using volume data captured in a state where the inside of the large intestine is filled with air with a foaming agent or the like.

  The projection data photographed by the tomography apparatus 10 and transmitted via the data transmission apparatus 17 is corrected by the preprocessing unit 21, and the tomographic image data is reconstructed by the reconstruction processing unit 25, and the three-dimensional volume data is data. It is stored in the storage unit 24. Various three-dimensional image data are generated using this volume data.

  Three-dimensional images can be generated using VR (volume rendering) for color display based on information such as CT values, fly-through for observation while moving in the lumen, and MIP (maximum projection) suitable for blood vessel display. Display), and MPR (arbitrary multi-section reconstruction) for reconstructing a tomographic image by cutting out an arbitrary section from volume data.

  The large intestine region data creation unit 261 acquires large intestine region data to be observed from the volume data stored in the data storage unit 24 and creates large intestine region data. The CT value range (three-dimensional volume data) Binarized volume data is created by setting voxels having a value of about −800 to −300 to “1” and other values to “0” to create colon region data. The CT value range (about -800 to -300) is a CT value corresponding to the intestinal tract between air and soft tissue.

  When constructing a 3D image by volume rendering, by setting the threshold (CT value for X-ray CT apparatus, signal intensity for MRI) and opacity (opacity), Data can be extracted and displayed in three dimensions. The CT value range (about −800 to −300) may be set in advance in the computer device 20 or may be set manually by operating the input unit 23 by the operator. Further, a process for excluding unnecessary areas other than the large intestine may be further provided.

  FIG. 3 (a) is an enlarged view of the intestinal tract represented by a CT value range (about −800 to −300), and the hatched portion represents the intestinal tract, and the region of CT value: −1000 is The part of the air in the intestinal tract is shown. FIG. 3B shows an example of the surface voxel group in the colon lumen having the value “1”, and shows an enlarged view of the inside of the frame A in FIG.

  Next, the surface normal vector calculation unit 262 creates surface normal vector data of the voxel group. That is, for the voxel of the surface of the region “1” of the large intestine region data (in this case, meaning the surface in the large intestine lumen), the normal vector in the lumen internal direction is obtained for the entire surface, and the surface position And surface normal vector data in which a set of vector quantities is stored.

Further, the surface unevenness degree calculation unit 263 creates surface unevenness degree data. That is, with reference to the voxel at the position i of the surface voxel in FIG. 3B, the variance of the angle formed by the normal vector of the surrounding voxel and the normal vector of the voxel at the position i is obtained. As the peripheral voxel, a surface voxel group existing adjacent to a range of about twice the average polyp diameter with i as the center is selected, and the dispersion of the angle formed with the normal vector at the position i is previously created. Using the line vector data, it is obtained by Equation 1.

  Here, N is the number of surface voxels existing adjacent to i, and θk is the angle formed between the normal vector of the kth surface voxel and the normal vector of i.

  This is performed for all surface voxels, and the obtained dispersion is calculated as the surface unevenness, and surface unevenness data storing a set of the surface position and the unevenness is created and output. That is, as the surrounding vector is different from the own vector, the unevenness is present. A portion with a high degree of unevenness is detected as a lesion candidate (polyp candidate), and the surface unevenness data is output as data representing the lesion.

  The color data creation unit 264 creates color data based on the created surface roughness data. This creates color data for color display according to the degree of unevenness, which is converted into color information based on the color scale that indicates the correspondence between the degree of unevenness and color, and the surface position and color information. The data in which the set is stored is created. Alternatively, binarized data may be created in which the surface position where the degree of unevenness is equal to or greater than a certain threshold value is represented as an uneven area and the value is “1”.

  Then, the VR image generation unit 265 creates a VR image colored according to the unevenness degree and displays it on the display unit 27. This VR image generation unit 265 is based on the color data created by the color data creation unit 264 on the assertion in the colon lumen of the VR image created using the colon region data from the colon region data creation unit 261. An image in which the color representing the degree of unevenness is texture-mapped is created. The VR image created by the VR image generation unit 265 is displayed on the display unit 27.

  When an uneven area is output as binarized data “1” in the process of the color data creation unit 264, as shown in FIG. 4, the uneven area is texture-mapped with a single color (for example, red). It becomes. In this case, by reducing the opacity value (opacity) of the VR image, the unevenness degree of the region overlapped in the screen depth direction is visualized at once, and if there are a plurality of portions with a high unevenness degree, a plurality of lesion part candidates are obtained. It is identified and displayed in color.

  Thereafter, the operator can display various medical images by operating the input unit 23 while viewing the displayed image. This can be realized by adding various display switching functions to the computer system 20.

  For example, in FIG. 4, when a plurality of regions having a high degree of unevenness (lesion site candidates B indicated by black dots) are displayed, if any part is clicked on the screen, the region is enlarged as shown in FIG. 5. Perspective VR images can be displayed. FIG. 5 shows an example of virtual endoscope display called fly-through, in which a portion b1 having a high degree of unevenness is displayed in color. By providing the enlarged display function in this way, diagnosis can be speeded up.

  In addition, a function of automatically displaying a list of candidate lesions having a high degree of unevenness may be added without clicking on the screen. As shown in FIG. 6, when there are a plurality of candidate lesions, those portions (for example, b1, b2, b3, b4) are simultaneously displayed on the same screen in a multi-screen. FIG. 6 shows an example in which four screens are displayed by fly-through.

  Furthermore, the portion to be observed can be displayed as a plurality of different types of images, and the portions selected by the operator can be displayed as images viewed from different viewpoints as shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 7a denotes a VR image in which a portion selected by the operator (for example, the black dot b1 portion in FIG. 4) is enlarged, 7b is a virtual endoscopic image, and 7c is a display by coronal MPR. 7d is a display image by sagittal MPR. The selected part (b1) is displayed in a colored manner on any of the screens 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d so that it can be identified.

  As described above, in the present invention, in order to find a lesion in a lumen, it is possible to easily identify whether or not there is an uneven portion that is a candidate for a polyp on a medical image. Since it is not necessary to observe the entire region, the lesion can be easily found.

  In the above description, an example of diagnosing the large intestine has been described, but it goes without saying that it can be applied to diagnosis in an organ such as the stomach. Further, although an X-ray CT apparatus has been described as an example as a modality, MRI or the like can also be used, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

The block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the medical diagnostic apparatus of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the data processing part in the embodiment. Explanatory drawing explaining the enlarged image and voxel group of the large intestine image | photographed in the embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a display image of the large intestine image | photographed in the same embodiment. The figure which shows the other example of the display image of the large intestine image | photographed in the same embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the image image | photographed in the embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the other example of a display of the image image | photographed in the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... Tomographic apparatus (X-ray CT apparatus)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Computer system 21 ... Pre-processing part 22 ... System controller 23 ... Input part 24 ... Data storage part 25 ... Reconstruction processing part 26 ... Data processing part 27 ... Display part 261 ... Large intestine area | region data creation part 262 ... Surface normal vector Calculation unit 263 ... Surface unevenness calculation unit 264 ... Color data creation unit 265 ... VR image generation unit

Claims (10)

Means for creating volume data based on projection data obtained by imaging a subject;
A data storage unit for storing the created volume data;
Lesion part data creating means for calculating a degree of unevenness of the surface of the observation target region to detect a lesion candidate and creating data representing the lesion candidate;
An image generation unit that generates an image in which the position of the lesion candidate can be identified based on the volume data of the observation target region and data representing the lesion candidate;
And a display unit capable of displaying the image generated by the image generation unit.   The lesion data generation means obtains volume data including a plurality of voxels of the observation target region from the volume data, and calculates a surface normal vector of a reference voxel and a voxel adjacent thereto among the plurality of voxels. The medical diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the degree of unevenness is calculated according to a variance of angles of the respective surface normal vectors.   The medical diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image generation unit includes a color data generation unit for displaying the lesion candidate in a specific color.   The image generating unit has a function of enlarging an image of an observation target region including a lesion candidate selected by an operator, and enables the enlarged image to be displayed on the display unit. The medical diagnostic apparatus described. Means for creating volume data based on projection data obtained by imaging a subject;
A data storage unit for storing the created volume data;
Means for acquiring volume data including a plurality of voxels of the observation target region from the volume data stored in the data storage unit;
Among the plurality of voxels in the observation target area, the surface normal vector of the reference voxel and the adjacent voxel is calculated, and the degree of unevenness is calculated according to the dispersion of the angles of the respective surface normal vectors. A lesion data creating means for detecting candidates and creating data representing lesion candidates;
An image generation unit that generates an image in which the position of the lesion candidate can be identified by a specific color based on the volume data of the observation target region and data representing the lesion candidate;
And a display unit capable of displaying the image generated by the image generation unit. A diagnostic support apparatus for performing diagnostic support using volume data created based on projection data obtained by imaging a subject,
Lesion part data creating means for calculating the degree of unevenness of the surface of the observation target region to detect a lesion candidate and creating data representing the lesion candidate;
An image generation unit that generates an image in which the position of the lesion candidate can be identified based on the volume data of the observation target region and data representing the lesion candidate;
A diagnostic support apparatus characterized in that an image generated by the image generation unit can be displayed on a display unit.   The lesion data generation means obtains volume data including a plurality of voxels of the observation target region from the volume data, and calculates a surface normal vector of a reference voxel and a voxel adjacent thereto among the plurality of voxels. 7. The diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the degree of unevenness is calculated according to the dispersion of the angles of the respective surface normal vectors.   The diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image generation unit includes a color data creation unit for displaying the lesion candidate in a specific color.   The image generation unit has a function of enlarging an image of an observation target region including a lesion candidate selected by an operator, and enables the enlarged image to be displayed on the display unit. The diagnosis support apparatus described. A diagnostic support apparatus for performing a medical diagnosis using volume data created based on projection data obtained by imaging a subject,
Means for acquiring volume data including a plurality of voxels of the observation target region from the volume data stored in the data storage unit;
Among the plurality of voxels in the observation target area, the surface normal vector of the reference voxel and the adjacent voxel is calculated, and the degree of unevenness is calculated according to the dispersion of the angles of the respective surface normal vectors. A lesion data creating means for detecting candidates and creating data representing lesion candidates;
An image generation unit that generates an image in which the position of the lesion candidate can be identified with a specific color based on the volume data of the observation target region and data representing the lesion candidate;
A diagnostic support apparatus characterized in that an image generated by the image generation unit can be displayed on a display unit.