JP2014092510A - Medical image processing apparatus and medical image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medical image processing apparatus configured to generate a relative index value on an index value indicating a degree of accumulated test drug, independent of accumulation likelihood of test drug in a tissue or a section, and to display the generated relative index value.SOLUTION: A medical image processing apparatus 1 includes: a storage part 11 which stores a nuclear medicine diagnosis image having an index value indicating a degree of accumulated test drug for every multiple pixels; an area specification part 13 which specifies at least one region from the nuclear medicine diagnosis image through predetermined filter processing; a relative index value calculation part 15 which calculates a relative index value in each of the multiple pixels included in the specified region, on the basis of a minimum index value outside the specified region, a maximum index value inside the specified region, and index values of the pixels in the specified region; and a display part 17 which displays the pixels included in the region specified by the nuclear medicine diagnosis image using hue corresponding to the calculated index value.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a medical image processing apparatus and a medical image processing program for processing medical images.

Conventionally, there is a PET-CT apparatus that integrates a positron emission computed tomography (hereinafter referred to as PET) apparatus and an X-ray computed tomography (hereinafter referred to as CT) apparatus. The PET-CT apparatus is used, for example, in a test (hereinafter referred to as a screening test) for examining the possibility of the presence or absence of a tumor. For example, ¹⁸ F-fluorodeoxyglucose (hereinafter referred to as FDG) is used as a test drug in the screening test. The PET-CT apparatus images the whole body of a subject in a screening test. In a screening test, a PET image generated by a PET-CT apparatus, for example, shows a distribution of values indicating the degree of FDG accumulation (tumor tissue radioactivity ratio: Standard Uptake Value: hereinafter referred to as SUV value) of the subject. At least one of gray scale and color scale is displayed over the whole body.

  In the PET image, the SUV value of normal tissue varies from tissue to tissue. For example, a large amount of FDG accumulates in the brain and bladder regardless of the presence or absence of a tumor. The distribution of SUV values is displayed over the entire body of the subject. At this time, the distribution image of the SUV value in the PET image is displayed with higher luminance as the SUV value is higher (hereinafter referred to as a higher SUV value). In general, for example, an interpreting doctor or the like tends to pay attention to a high luminance region (a region having a high SUV value). However, a site or tissue such as the brain and bladder where FDG is accumulated frequently may be a normal tissue even if the SUV value is a high SUV value. On the other hand, even if a site or tissue in which FDG is difficult to accumulate is an abnormal tissue, the SUV value may be small. For this reason, in a PET image in a screening examination, there is a problem that an interpreting doctor or the like is likely to overlook a tumor related to a site or tissue in which FDG is difficult to accumulate.

  In addition, when interpreting doctors observe the distribution of SUV values in a region of interest, they may narrow down the SUV values. However, when displaying the distribution of SUV values in a PET image, since the lower limit value of the display of SUV values is set on a predetermined setting screen, the interpretation doctor reflects how the setting of narrowing down is reflected in the distribution of SUV values. There is a problem that is difficult to grasp. That is, since the SUV value narrowing is executed on a setting screen different from the display screen, there is a problem that it is difficult to see the reaction result of the PET image by narrowing the SUV value. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to finely adjust the SUV value.

JP 2010-46103 A

  The purpose is to calculate the relative index value related to the index value indicating the degree of accumulation of the test drug without depending on the ease of accumulation of the test drug in the tissue or site, and display the calculated relative index value An object of the present invention is to provide a medical image processing apparatus and a medical image processing program capable of setting a display range of relative index values.

  The medical image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit that stores a nuclear medicine diagnosis image having an index value indicating a degree of accumulation of the test drug for each of a plurality of pixels, and at least a predetermined filtering process from the nuclear medicine diagnosis image. An area specifying unit that specifies one area; a minimum value of the index value outside the specified area; a maximum value of the index value inside the specified area; and a plurality of values in the specified area A relative index value calculation unit that calculates a relative relative index value in each of a plurality of pixels included in the specified region based on the index value of each of the pixels, and the specified of the nuclear medicine diagnosis image And a display unit that displays each of the plurality of pixels included in the region with a hue corresponding to the calculated relative index value.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the medical image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a nuclear medicine diagnosis image according to the present embodiment before a predetermined filter process is performed. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the SUV value in the high SUV region is changed to a relative index value according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the SUV value in the high SUV region is changed to a relative index value according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 relates to the present embodiment, a procedure for calculating a relative index value for each of a plurality of pixels in a specific area and displaying each of the plurality of pixels in the specific area with a hue corresponding to the calculated relative index value. It is a flowchart which shows an example. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an outline of a process of calculating a relative index value in each of a plurality of pixels in a specific region according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outline of a procedure for calculating and displaying a relative index value in an area obtained by expanding a specified area according to the first modification of the present embodiment. FIG. 8 relates to a second modification of the present embodiment, and displays pixels related to relative index values included in the hue display range set in the color scale bar according to the hue of the color scale bar corresponding to the hue display range. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a procedure. FIG. 9 relates to a second modification of the present embodiment, for explaining that the upper limit and the lower limit of the color scale bar are respectively displayed as the upper limit and the lower limit of the relative index value in the input hue display range. It is explanatory drawing.

  Hereinafter, a medical image table processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be given only when necessary.

  Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a medical image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

  The medical image processing apparatus 1 includes a storage unit 11, a region specifying unit 13, a relative index value calculation unit 15, a display unit 17, an interface unit 19, an input unit 21, and a control unit 23. For example, an input unit 21 and a network are connected to the interface unit 19. The medical image processing apparatus 1 is connected to a medical image generation apparatus, a medical image storage apparatus, and the like (not shown) via a network. The medical image processing apparatus 1 reads medical image data, volume data, and the like generated by the medical image generation apparatus via a network and stores them in the storage unit 11 described later. The medical image processing apparatus 1 may read medical image data, volume data, and the like stored in the medical image storage apparatus via a network and store them in the storage unit 11 described later.

  The storage unit 11 reads and stores medical image data generated by the medical image generation device and medical image data stored in the medical image storage device via a network. Hereinafter, in order to simplify the description, it is assumed that the storage unit 11 stores data of a nuclear medicine diagnosis image generated by the nuclear medicine diagnosis apparatus. Specifically, the storage unit 11 stores a PET image generated by a positron emission computed tomography (hereinafter referred to as PET) apparatus as a nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus.

  The storage unit 11 may store a PET image generated by a PET-CT apparatus in which a PET apparatus and an X-ray computed tomography (hereinafter referred to as CT) apparatus are integrated. The storage unit 11 stores a SPECT image generated by a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) apparatus, a SPECT-CT apparatus, or the like as a nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus. May be.

The PET image stored in the storage unit 11 is used, for example, in a test for examining the possibility of the presence of a tumor (hereinafter referred to as a screening test). For example, ¹⁸ F-fluorodeoxyglucose (hereinafter referred to as FDG) is used as a test drug in the screening test. The PET image in the screening examination is, for example, a distribution of an index value (Tumor tissue radioactivity ratio: hereinafter referred to as SUV value) indicating the degree of FDG accumulation, at least one of a gray scale and a color scale. Are displayed by the display unit 17 described later. Assume that the nuclear medicine diagnosis image to be processed in each part described below is a PET image showing the distribution of SUV values.

  The storage unit 11 stores a control program used by the control unit 23 described later, an area specifying program related to a predetermined filter process used by the area specifying unit 13 described later, and the like. In addition, the storage unit 11 stores a relative index value calculation program for calculating a relative index value in the relative index value calculation unit 15 described later.

  The area specifying unit 13 performs a predetermined filter process on the PET image stored in the storage unit 11. The region specifying unit 13 specifies at least one region in the PET image by a predetermined filter process. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a PET image on which predetermined filter processing is executed. The shade of the PET image in FIG. 2 indicates the magnitude of the SUV value.

  Specifically, the region specifying unit 13 generates data related to spatial frequency (hereinafter referred to as spatial frequency data) by performing Fourier transform on the PET image data. The region specifying unit 13 performs a filtering process on the spatial frequency data using a high pass filter (hereinafter referred to as HPF) as a predetermined filtering process. The region specifying unit 13 performs an inverse Fourier transform on the spatial frequency data that has passed through the HPF. Thereby, the area specifying unit 13 specifies a plurality of pixels having a predetermined SUV value change from the PET image. The area specifying unit 13 specifies at least one area in the PET image by connecting the specified pixels. The specified region (hereinafter referred to as a specific region) is a region composed of a plurality of pixels having an SUV value higher than that of neighboring pixels in the specific region.

  The area specifying unit 13 outputs the specified area to the relative index value calculating unit 15 described later. The region specifying unit 13 may specify a region from the PET image by performing threshold processing using an average SUV value obtained by averaging a plurality of SUV values in the PET image or a predetermined value as a threshold.

  The relative index value calculation unit 15 calculates a relative index value for each of a plurality of pixels included in each of the specified specific areas. Specifically, the relative index value calculation unit 15 specifies the minimum value (Min) of the index value (SUV value) outside the specific area. The relative index value calculation unit 15 specifies the maximum value (Max) of the index values (SUV values) inside the specific area. Based on the minimum value (Min), the maximum value (Max), and the index value (SUV value) (Index) of each of the plurality of pixels included in the specific region, the relative index value calculation unit 15 A relative relative index value is calculated. The relative index value indicates, for example, the ratio of the index value of the pixels included in the specific area with respect to the difference between the index values between the minimum value and the maximum value. Specifically, the relative index value is calculated by the following formula, for example.

Relative index value = Min * (Index−1) / (Max−Min) × 100
The relative index value has a value of 0 to 100. The relative index value calculation unit 15 outputs the relative index value calculated for each of a plurality of pixels included in each of the specified specific areas to the display unit 17 described later.

  The relative index value is a numerical value that relatively represents the index value of each of a plurality of pixels in the specific area with reference to the minimum value of the index value outside the specific area and the maximum value of the index value in the specific area. If so, it may be defined in any way. For example, the relative index value may be defined by the following formula.

Relative index value = Index / (Max−Min) × 100
Although the PET image showing the distribution of SUV values has been described as the calculation target of the relative index value, the calculation target of the relative index value is not limited to the PET image showing the distribution of the SUV value. For example, the relative index value calculation unit 15 calculates relative index values for PET images related to cerebral blood flow, oxygen metabolism (cerebral oxygen uptake rate, oxygen consumption rate, etc.), myocardial blood flow, myocardial metabolism, and the like. It is also possible to calculate.

  Further, the relative index value calculation unit 15 calculates relative index values for SPECT images such as a SPECT image (brain function imaging) relating to cerebral blood flow and a SPECT image (myocardial blood flow imaging) relating to myocardial blood flow. It is also possible.

  The display unit 17 displays the relative index value calculated by the relative index value calculation unit 15 together with the medical image. Specifically, the display unit 17 displays a pixel having a relative index value with a hue corresponding to the value (0 to 100) of the relative index value together with the nuclear medicine diagnosis image used for calculating the relative index value. .

  FIG. 3 shows an example (hereinafter referred to as SUV display) in which an area (specific area) having an SUV value (hereinafter referred to as a high SUV area) higher than the SUV values of the peripheral pixels is displayed in a hue corresponding to the SUV value. It is a figure which shows an example changed into the example (henceforth a relative display) which displayed the specific area | region displayed with the hue according to the relative index value with the relative index value. Since FIG. 3 is black and white, the hue corresponds to gray scale. As shown in FIG. 3, in the SUV display, when the SUV values are close in adjacent pixels, the hue (color scale, gray scale in FIG. 3) is close. On the other hand, in relative display, even if the SUV values are close to each other in adjacent pixels, the relative index values are greatly different, so that the hues are separated.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the SUV display is changed to the relative display in a specific area different from that in FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the SUV value difference becomes clearer by changing the SUV display to the relative display.

  The interface unit 19 is an interface related to an input unit 21, a network, an external storage device (not shown), and the like which will be described later. The interface unit 19 is connected to a medical image capturing device and a medical image storage device (not shown) via an electronic communication line, typically a local area network (hereinafter referred to as a LAN). The The data of the nuclear medicine diagnosis image generated by the medical image photographing device or the data of the nuclear medicine diagnosis image stored by the medical image storage device is stored in the storage unit 11 via the interface unit 19. In addition, data of a nuclear medicine diagnostic image including a specific region having a relative index value calculated by the medical image processing apparatus 1 can be transferred to another device such as a medical image storage device (not shown) via a network. It is.

  The input unit 21 inputs various instructions, commands, information, selections, settings, and the like from an operator or the like to the control unit 23 described later. Specifically, the input unit 21 includes input devices such as a trackball, a switch button, a mouse, a mouse / wheel, and a keyboard for inputting the above-described various instructions / commands / information / selections / settings. The input device may be a touch panel that covers the display screen in the display unit 17.

  The control unit 23 includes a central processing unit (Central Processing Unit: hereinafter referred to as CPU), a memory, and the like which are not shown. The control unit 23 functions as the center of the medical image processing apparatus 1. Specifically, the control unit 23 reads a control program or the like from the storage unit 11 in accordance with an input operation input via the input unit 21 and expands it on its own memory. The control unit 23 controls each unit of the medical image processing apparatus 1 by executing the developed control program. In addition, the control unit 23 controls the region specifying unit 13 by reading the region specifying program from the storage unit 11 and executing it. In addition, the control unit 23 controls the relative index value calculation unit 15 by reading and executing the relative index value calculation program.

(Relative index value calculation display function)
The relative index value calculation display function calculates a relative index value based on the minimum value outside the specific area, the maximum value in the specific area, and the SUV values of each of a plurality of pixels in the specific area, and the calculated relative index This is a function for displaying pixels in a specific area with a hue corresponding to a value. Hereinafter, processing related to the relative value calculation display function (hereinafter referred to as relative value calculation display processing) will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of relative value calculation display processing.
A nuclear medicine diagnosis image is read from the storage unit 11 (step Sa1). By applying HPF to the read nuclear medicine diagnosis image, a specific region having an index value (SUV value) larger than the index value (SUV value) of a neighboring pixel is specified (step Sa2). The minimum value (Min) of the index value (SUV value) outside the specific area is specified (step Sa3). The maximum value (Max) of the index value (SUV value) within the specific area is specified (step Sa4). It should be noted that the processing order may be interchanged between the processing at step Sa3 and the processing at step Sa4.

  Based on the specified minimum value (Min) and maximum value (Max) and the index value of each of the plurality of pixels in the area, a relative index value corresponding to each of the plurality of pixels in the specific area is calculated ( Step Sa5). Each of the plurality of pixels included in the specific region in the nuclear medicine diagnosis image is displayed with a hue corresponding to the relative index value (step Sa6). When there are a plurality of specific areas, in the relative value calculation display process, the processes of steps Sa3 to Sa5 are executed in each of the plurality of specific processes.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an outline of a process of calculating a relative index value in each of a plurality of pixels in a specific region. In the nuclear medicine diagnosis image, the region where the change in the SUV value is large is identified by HPF. In FIG. 6, the identified areas are area A, area B, and area C. In each of the areas A to C, a relative index value is calculated. In the area A to the area C in FIG. The minimum value is 1 because the SUV value is 1 when it is assumed that the FDG administered to the subject is uniformly distributed throughout the subject. In each of the areas A to C, the relative index value in the specific area is associated with the hue by expanding and contracting and shifting the relative index value to the vertical length of the color scale.

(First modification)
The difference from the first embodiment is that a specific area is expanded at a predetermined expansion rate, and a relative index value is calculated for each of a plurality of pixels in the expanded specific area.

  The configuration of the medical image processing apparatus according to the first modification is the same as that of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, components that perform different operations in the components of the first modification and the first embodiment will be described.

  The area specifying unit 13 performs a predetermined number of expansion processes (Dilation) on the specific area. The expansion process corresponds to, for example, moving the boundary line of the specific area toward the outside of the specific area by one pixel. For example, execution of the expansion process n times corresponds to expanding the specific area outside the area by n pixels. Hereinafter, the specific area expanded by the expansion process is referred to as an expanded area.

  The relative index value calculation unit 15 specifies the minimum value (Min) outside the extended region. The relative index value calculation unit 15 specifies the maximum value (Max) inside the extended region. Based on the minimum value (Min) and the maximum value (Max), and the index value (SUV value) (Index) of each of the plurality of pixels included in the expansion region, the relative index value calculation unit 15 A relative relative index value in each pixel is calculated. The relative index value indicates, for example, the ratio of the index value of the pixels included in the specific area with respect to the difference between the index values between the minimum value and the maximum value.

(Relative index value calculation display function)
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a processing procedure related to the relative index value calculation / display function in the extended area obtained by extending the specific area. Based on the SUV display (S11) of the PET image, an area having an SUV value larger than the SUV value of the neighboring pixel is specified (S12). A dilation process is performed on the identified region a predetermined number of times (S13). A relative index value is calculated based on the SUV value, the minimum value, and the maximum value of each of the plurality of pixels in the expanded region obtained by expanding the specific region. Each of the plurality of pixels included in the extended region is displayed with a hue corresponding to the relative index value (S14).

(Second modification)
The difference between the first embodiment and the first modification is that when a hue display range (hereinafter referred to as a hue display range) is input in the color scale bar related to the hue corresponding to the relative index value, the color scale The upper and lower limits of the bar are displayed as a plurality of relative index values respectively corresponding to the upper and lower limits of the hue display range. Next, the relative index value included in the hue display range is displayed according to the hue in the color scale bar.

  The configuration of the medical image processing apparatus 1 according to the second modification is the same as that of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, components that perform different operations in the components of the second modification and the first embodiment will be described.

  The input unit 21 inputs a hue display range in a color scale bar described later. The color scale bar is a bar that indicates a plurality of hues corresponding to a plurality of relative index values as legends. The hue in the color scale bar corresponds to each of a plurality of relative index values. The upper limit of the color scale bar corresponds to the maximum relative index value (100%). The lower limit of the color scale bar corresponds to the minimum relative index value (0%).

  Specifically, the input unit 21 inputs an upper limit and a lower limit of the hue display range to the color scale bar. As an example, a case will be described in which the lower limit of the hue display range is input as a relative index value of 50%, and the upper limit of the phase display range is input as a relative index value of 75%. Move the cursor to the 50% position on the color scale bar and double-click the mouse to confirm the input. Next, the cursor is moved to a position of 75% on the color scale bar, and the input is confirmed by double-clicking the mouse. Of the two input positions, the input unit 21 determines a position close to 100% as the upper limit of the hue display range and a position close to 0% as the lower limit of the hue display range. The upper and lower limits of the determined hue display range are output to the display unit 17.

  When the input position is one place (for example, 10%) in the color scale bar, the input unit 21 sets the lower limit of the hue display range as the input position value (10%), and the lower limit. The hue display range is determined by setting the upper limit of the hue display range to 100%.

  The display unit 17 displays a color scale bar. When the hue display range is input by the input unit 21, the display unit 17 displays the upper limit and the lower limit on the color scale bar with a plurality of relative index values respectively associated with the upper limit and the lower limit of the hue display range. . For example, when the lower limit of the hue display range is input as 50% and the upper limit is 75%, the display unit 17 displays the lower limit of the color scale bar as 50% and the upper limit as 75%. When the display of the upper limit and the lower limit of the color scale bar is changed, the display unit 17 displays pixels related to the relative index values included in the hue display range according to the hue of the color scale bar. That is, the hue of the pixel related to the relative index value included in the hue display range is changed according to the hue of the color scale bar, triggered by the change in the upper limit and lower limit display of the color scale bar.

(Limited display function)
The limited display function is a function that displays pixels related to relative index values included in the hue display range input in the color scale bar according to the hue of the color scale bar. That is, the limited display function limits the pixels displayed in hue by the relative index value included in the hue display range. Hereinafter, processing related to the limited display function (hereinafter referred to as limited display processing) will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a limited display processing procedure for displaying pixels related to relative index values included in the hue display range set in the color scale bar according to the hue of the color scale bar corresponding to the hue display range. .

  A plurality of pixels in the specific region in the nuclear medicine diagnosis image are displayed with a plurality of hues respectively corresponding to the plurality of relative index values (step Sb1). A color scale bar indicating the legend of the hue corresponding to the relative index value is displayed (step Sb2). A hue display range is input to the color scale bar (step Sb3). The upper limit and the lower limit in the color scale bar are respectively displayed with a plurality of relative index values respectively corresponding to the upper limit and the lower limit of the input hue display range (step Sb4). Pixels related to the relative index value included in the hue display range are displayed in the hue on the displayed color scale bar (step Sb5).

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining that the upper limit and the lower limit of the color scale bar are respectively displayed as the upper and lower limits of the relative index value in the input hue display range. FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating an example of a color scale bar before a hue display range is input. FIG. 9A corresponds to step Sb2. The upper limit of the color scale bar in FIG. 9a indicates the maximum value (100%) of the relative index value, and the lower limit indicates the minimum value (0%) of the relative index value.

  FIG. 9B shows the state of the color scale bar when the hue display range is input to the color scale bar. Here, the upper limit of the hue display range is 75%, and the lower limit is 50%. Pixels related to relative index values included in the input hue display range are displayed in the corresponding hue. FIG. 9b corresponds to step Sb3.

  9c, the upper limit value (100%) in the color scale bar of FIG. 9a is changed to the upper limit value (75%) of the hue display range, and the lower limit value (0) in the color scale bar of FIG. %) Is a diagram showing a color scale bar in which the hue display range is changed to the lower limit (50%). FIG. 9c corresponds to step Sb4 and step Sb5. At this time, in the nuclear medicine diagnosis image, pixels having relative index values included in the hue display range are displayed according to the hue of the displayed color scale bar.

According to the configuration described above, the following effects can be obtained.
According to the medical image processing apparatus 1 in the present embodiment, in a nuclear medicine diagnosis image, a relative index related to an index value indicating a degree of accumulation of a test drug without depending on the ease of accumulation of the test drug in a tissue or a site. The value can be calculated and the calculated relative index value can be displayed. For example, the SUV value in the PET image can be displayed as a relative index value. As a result, for example, even in a region or tissue where FDG is difficult to accumulate, the accumulation of FDG can be displayed to an interpreting doctor or the like so as to be easily detected visually without being buried in the distribution of surrounding SUV values. For this reason, for example, in a PET image in a screening test, the possibility of overlooking a tumor related to a site or tissue in which FDG is difficult to accumulate can be reduced.

  In addition, according to the medical image processing apparatus 1, an index value relative to the expanded area in which the specified area has been expanded for a predetermined number of times is calculated, and the calculated relative index value is calculated. Can be displayed. As a result, the SUV values of the neighboring pixels in the specific area can also be displayed as relative index values. Further, by repeating the expansion process, the connectivity of the regions can be improved. Therefore, even when the specific area is small, each of the plurality of pixels in the enlarged area obtained by enlarging the specific area can be displayed with a hue corresponding to the relative index value.

  In addition, according to the medical image processing apparatus of the present embodiment, the hue display range can be set in the displayed color scale bar. Furthermore, pixels having a relative index value included in the set hue display range can be displayed with a hue corresponding to the relative index value in the color scale bar. Thereby, for example, it is possible to narrow down the relative index value corresponding to the narrowing of the SUV value. In addition, changes in the hue and distribution of the relative index value due to the narrowing down of the relative index value can be displayed in real time together with the narrowing down of the relative index value. From the above, fine adjustment of narrowing of the relative index value becomes simple, and inspection efficiency is improved.

  In addition, each function according to the embodiment can also be realized by installing a medical image processing program for executing the processing in a computer such as a workstation and developing the program on a memory. At this time, a program capable of causing the computer to execute the method is stored in a storage medium such as a magnetic disk (floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), or a semiconductor memory. It can also be distributed.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Medical image processing apparatus, 11 ... Memory | storage part, 13 ... Area | region specific part, 15 ... Relative index value calculation part, 17 ... Display part, 19 ... Interface part, 21 ... Input part, 23 ... Control part

Claims (6)

A storage unit for storing a nuclear medicine diagnosis image having an index value indicating a degree of accumulation of the test drug for each of a plurality of pixels;
An area specifying unit for specifying at least one area by a predetermined filtering process from the nuclear medicine diagnosis image;
Based on the minimum value of the index value outside the specified area, the maximum value of the index value inside the specified area, and the index value of each of a plurality of pixels in the specified area, A relative index value calculation unit that calculates a relative relative index value in each of a plurality of pixels included in the specified region;
A display unit for displaying each of a plurality of pixels included in the specified region of the nuclear medicine diagnosis image with a hue corresponding to the calculated relative index value;
A medical image processing apparatus comprising: The region specifying unit includes:
Identifying a region having a plurality of pixels having an index value higher than an index value of a neighboring pixel as the region by using a high-pass filter in the filtering process;
The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The display unit
Displaying a color scale bar for the hue with the minimum value as a lower limit and the maximum value as an upper limit;
The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 2. The color scale bar further includes an input unit for inputting a hue display range for displaying the relative index value in the hue,
The display unit
The upper and lower limits of the color scale bar are respectively displayed with a plurality of the relative index values respectively associated with the upper and lower limits of the input hue display range,
Displaying the pixels related to the relative index value included in the hue display range according to the hue of the displayed color scale bar;
The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 3. The region specifying unit includes:
Specify an extended area that extends the specified area by a predetermined range,
The relative index value calculation unit includes:
Based on the minimum value of the index value outside the extension area, the maximum value of the index value inside the extension area, and the index value of each of the plurality of pixels in the extension area, a plurality of index values in the extension area Calculating a relative relative index value for each pixel;
The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1. On the computer,
Storing a nuclear medicine diagnostic image having an index value indicating the accumulation degree of the test drug for each of a plurality of pixels;
Identifying at least one region by a predetermined filtering process from the nuclear medicine diagnostic image;
Based on the minimum value of the index value outside the specified area, the maximum value of the index value inside the specified area, and the index value of each of a plurality of pixels in the specified area, Calculating a relative relative index value in each of a plurality of pixels included in the specified region;
Displaying each of a plurality of pixels included in the specified region in the nuclear medicine diagnosis image with a hue corresponding to the calculated relative index value;
A medical image processing program comprising:

Images