JP2017225742A - Image reading support device, image reading support method, and image reading support program - Google Patents

Abstract

CONSTITUTION: A communication I/F 12 acquires a plurality of tomographic images corresponding to a plurality of positions in an extension direction of a reference axis penetrating a patient's body, each of which indicates a cross section orthogonal to the reference axis. The plurality of acquired body axis tomographic images are temporarily stored in a DRAM 22. A CPU 14 displays one of the plurality of body axis tomographic images stored in the DRAM 22 on a monitor 20, and updates the body axis tomographic image on the monitor 20 in response to a paging operation. The CPU 14 also measures a time for an image reading doctor to face a monitor screen, namely, a time of observation by the image reading doctor for each body axis tomographic image, and extracts part of the body axis tomographic images based on the measured time of observation.EFFECT: Since a body axis tomographic image whose time of observation is long can be regarded as an image of interest in which an image reading doctor has shown interest, it is possible to improve efficiency of image reading auxiliary work in which images of interest are integrated, by extracting part of the body axis tomographic images based on the time of observation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image interpretation support apparatus, an image interpretation support method, and an image interpretation support program, and more particularly to an image interpretation support apparatus, an image interpretation support method, and an image interpretation support program that support an interpretation operation of a tomographic image created by a modality.

  In image diagnosis for diagnosing a patient by interpreting a tomographic image created by CT or MRI, it is most important that all of the photographed diagnostic images are observed by an interpreter. In image diagnosis, observing all tomographic images and collecting some tomographic images, which are decisive for diagnosis, as an image of interest is also an important task for assisting in interpretation.

  In this connection, Patent Document 1 identifies an observed area and an unobserved area for an image to be interpreted in order to support a high-accuracy interpretation work by an interpreter, and points out an omission of interpretation for the unobserved area. Is disclosed. Here, the identification of the observed region and the unobserved region is realized by measuring the line of sight of the interpreter with a camera and recording the operation record of the GUI in time series.

JP 2007-319327 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, some tomographic images are not collected as images of interest, and there is a limit to the efficiency of the interpretation assistance work. In recent years, when it takes time to gather images of interest with an increase in the number of tomographic images to be diagnosed, such a problem becomes more prominent.

  Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide an image interpretation support apparatus, an image interpretation support method, and an image interpretation support program, which can improve the efficiency of the image interpretation support work.

  An image interpretation support apparatus according to the present invention (10: reference numeral corresponding to the embodiment; the same applies hereinafter) has cross sections respectively corresponding to a plurality of positions in the extending direction of the reference axis passing through the body of the patient and orthogonal to the reference axis. A tomographic image acquisition means (12) for acquiring a plurality of tomographic images represented by each, a tomographic image display means (S15) for displaying any one of a plurality of tomographic images acquired by the tomographic image acquisition means on a monitor screen, A tomographic image updating unit (S19, S21) that updates the tomographic image displayed by the image display unit in response to the update operation, and measures the time when the image reader faces the monitor screen for each tomographic image displayed by the tomographic image displaying unit. Time measuring means (S51 to S67), and tomographic image extracting means (S33, S35) for extracting a part of a plurality of tomographic images based on the time measured by the time measuring means.

  Preferably, a camera (24) that repeatedly outputs an image representing a subject in front of the monitor screen is further provided, and the time measuring means is search means (S55) for searching for a face image of the image interpreter from the output image of the camera, and Accumulating means (S57, S65) for accumulating the time when the search result of the searching means indicates detection is included.

  Preferably, the reference tomographic image display means (S11) for displaying a reference tomographic image representing a cross section orthogonal to the reference axis at a predetermined position in the extending direction of the reference axis passing through the patient's body, and the time displayed by the time measuring means Is further provided with statistical information display means (S69) for displaying statistical information representatively indicating the above in the vicinity of the reference tomographic image displayed by the reference tomographic image display means.

  In one aspect, the statistical information corresponds to a histogram having a first axis extending along a reference axis arranged in the reference tomographic image and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and defining time. .

  In another aspect, the statistical information display means updates the statistical information in parallel with the processing of the time measurement means.

  In another aspect, the reference tomographic image is at least one of a coronal tomographic image and a sagittal tomographic image.

  Preferably, the tomographic image extracting means includes tomographic image detecting means (S33) for detecting a tomographic image whose time exceeds the threshold value (TH2) as a tomographic image to be extracted.

  Preferably, the tomographic image extraction means includes first tomographic image display means (S35) for displaying a part of the plurality of tomographic images.

  Preferably, time information storage means (S37, S41) for storing time information indicating the time measured by the time measurement means at the end of interpretation is further provided.

  More preferably, it is further provided with time information acquisition means (S7) for acquiring the time information stored by the time information storage means at the time of resuming the interpretation, and the time measurement means is based on the time information acquired by the time information acquisition means. Update the value.

  More preferably, second tomographic image display means (S79) for displaying a part of a plurality of tomographic images based on the time information acquired by the time information acquiring means, and the tomographic image displayed by the second tomographic image display means. Is further provided with tomographic image non-display means (S83) for non-display prior to processing of the tomographic image update means.

  Preferably, a calculation means (S27) for calculating a total value of times measured by the time measurement means, and an activation means (S29) for starting the tomographic image extraction means in accordance with the total value calculated by the calculation means are further provided. It is done.

  The image interpretation support method according to the present invention provides a tomographic image acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of tomographic images respectively corresponding to a plurality of positions in the extending direction of the reference axis that penetrates the patient's body and each representing a cross section orthogonal to the reference axis. A tomographic image display step of displaying any one of a plurality of tomographic images acquired by the tomographic image acquiring means on a monitor screen (10). S15), a tomographic image update step (S19, S21) for updating the tomographic image displayed in the tomographic image display step in response to the update operation, and the tomographic image displayed by the tomographic image display step for the time when the image reader faces the monitor screen A time measurement step (S51 to S67) for each image, and a tomographic image extraction step for extracting a part of a plurality of tomographic images based on the time measured by the time measurement step. Comprises up (S33, S35).

  The image interpretation support program according to the present invention obtains a plurality of tomographic image acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of tomographic images respectively corresponding to a plurality of positions in the extending direction of the reference axis passing through the patient's body and each representing a cross section orthogonal to the reference axis. A tomographic image display step (S15) for displaying any one of a plurality of tomographic images acquired by the tomographic image acquiring means on the monitor screen in the processor (14) of the image interpretation support device (10) comprising (12), A tomographic image update step (S19, S21) that updates the tomographic image displayed in the image display step in response to the update operation, and measures the time when the image reader faces the monitor screen for each tomographic image displayed in the tomographic image display step Time measurement steps (S51 to S67) and tomographic image extraction steps (S33, S35) for extracting a part of a plurality of tomographic images based on the time measured in the time measurement step This is an interpretation support program.

  When the tomographic image displayed on the monitor screen is updated in response to the update operation, the time when the image reader faces the monitor screen, that is, the observation time, is measured for each tomographic image, and some of the images are based on the measured observation time. A tomographic image is extracted. Since tomographic images with a long observation time can be regarded as images of interest that the interpreter has shown interest, extracting some tomographic images based on the observation time can improve the efficiency of the interpretation assistance work that summarizes the images of interest. Figured.

  The above object, other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the medical diagnosis assistance system applied to this Example. (A) is an illustrative view showing an example of a structure of a plurality of DICOM files each containing a tomographic image representing a body axis section, and (B) is a structure of a DICOM file containing a tomographic image representing a coronal section. It is an illustration figure which shows an example. It is an illustration figure which shows an example of a structure of the register referred by the interpretation assistance apparatus. It is an illustration figure which shows an example of the display of the monitor provided in the image interpretation assistance apparatus. (A) is an illustrative view showing an example of a subject imaged by the camera, (B) is an illustrative view showing another example of an object imaged by the camera, and (C) is an object imaged by the camera. It is an illustration figure which shows another example of these. It is an illustration figure which shows an example of the change of the monitor display accompanying paging operation. It is an illustration figure which shows another example of the change of the monitor display accompanying paging operation. It is an illustration figure which shows an example of a coronal tomographic image and the histogram multiplexed on this. It is an illustration figure which shows an example of the reference line drawn on the histogram. It is an illustration figure which shows a part of processing operation of an image interpretation assistance apparatus. It is an illustration figure which shows an example of the monitor display at the time of accepting interpretation completion operation. It is a flowchart which shows a part of operation | movement of CPU provided in the interpretation support apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows a part of other operation | movement of CPU provided in the image interpretation assistance apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows a part of other operation | movement of CPU provided in the image interpretation assistance apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows a part of operation | movement of CPU provided in the image interpretation assistance apparatus further. It is a flowchart which shows a part of operation | movement of CPU provided in the image interpretation assistance apparatus of another Example.

  With reference to FIG. 1, the medical diagnosis support system of this embodiment includes an image interpretation support apparatus 10, an MRI apparatus 30, and a PACS 40 that are connected to each other via a hospital LAN 50. In the image interpretation support apparatus 10, a communication I / F 12, a CPU 14, a keyboard / mouse 16, an HDD 18, a monitor 20, a DRAM 22, and a camera 24 are connected to the bus BS1.

  The MRI apparatus 30 is an apparatus that takes a tomographic image of an examination site of a patient using a nuclear magnetic resonance phenomenon. When the axis that penetrates the patient's body is defined as the “reference axis” and the axis that penetrates the patient's body is defined as the “reference axis”, in the imaging process, Kmax pieces (Kmax) in the extending direction of the reference axis are defined. : A tomographic image representing a cross section orthogonal to the reference axis at each of the positions of 2 or more), and a cross section orthogonal to the reference axis at the center position (predetermined position) in the extending direction of the reference axis An image is created.

  In creating each tomographic image, the maximum value projection method is adopted. A cross section perpendicular to the reference axis is called a “body axis cross section”, and a tomographic image representing the body axis cross section is called a “body axis tomographic image”. Furthermore, a cross section orthogonal to the reference axis is called a “coronal cross section”, and a tomographic image representing the coronal cross section is called a “coronal tomographic image”. The body axis tomographic image and the coronal tomographic image may be referred to as a “reference tomographic image” and a “reference tomographic image”, respectively.

  The created body axis tomographic image or coronal tomographic image is stored in a DICOM file together with file information, patient information, and a slice position. As a result, Kmax DICOM files shown in FIG. 2 (A) are created for the body axis section, and a single DICOM file shown in FIG. 2 (B) is created for the coronal section. Any DICOM file created in this way is stored in the PACS 40 via the hospital LAN 50.

  The DRAM 22 is provided with a work area 22w, a display area 22m, a timer TM1, and a register RGST1 having the structure shown in FIG. According to FIG. 3, a total of Kmax columns from “1” to “Kmax” are provided for the variable K. Each of the Kmax columns is provided for setting the time when the interpretation doctor observes the target body axis tomographic image, and the initial value indicates “0”.

  The CPU 14 fetches Kmax + 1 DICOM files created for a common patient from the PACS 40 to support image diagnosis by an interpreting doctor, and then performs the main task shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 and the observation shown in FIG. Perform time measurement tasks.

  Note that Kmax + 1 DICOM files are acquired through the communication I / F 12, and Kmax body axis tomographic images and single coronal tomographic images stored therein are stored in the work area 22 w of the DRAM 22. Further, programs corresponding to the main task and the observation time measurement task are stored in the HDD 18 as an interpretation support program.

  Referring to FIG. 12, in step S1, it is repeatedly determined whether or not an interpretation start operation has been performed with the keyboard / mouse 16. When the determination result is updated from NO to YES, it is determined in step S3 whether the current interpretation start operation corresponds to a new interpretation operation or an interpretation restart operation. If the current interpretation start operation corresponds to a new interpretation operation, the process proceeds to step S5. If the current interpretation start operation corresponds to an interpretation restart operation, the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S5, the register RGST1 is initialized. On the other hand, in step S7, observation information stored in the PACS 40 by the process of step S41 described later is acquired through the communication I / F 12, and the acquired observation information is set in RGST1. When the process of step S5 or S7 is completed, the process proceeds to step S9.

  In step S9, a body axis tomographic image at the center position (predetermined position) in the extending direction of the reference axis is detected from the work area 22w of the DRAM 22, and the detected body axis tomographic image is developed in the lower left of the display area 22m. The developed body axis tomographic image is read by the monitor 20 and displayed at the lower left of the screen in the manner shown in FIG.

  In step S11, a coronal tomographic image at the center position in the extending direction of the reference axis is detected from the work area 22w, and the detected coronal tomographic image is developed on the upper left of the display area 22m. The developed coronal tomographic image is also read by the monitor 20 and displayed on the upper left of the screen in the manner shown in FIG.

  In step S13, the variable K is set to a default value (median value). In step S15, the Kth body axis tomographic image is detected from the work area 22w, and the detected body axis tomographic image is developed in the upper right of the display area 22m. The developed body axis tomographic image is also read by the monitor 20 and displayed on the upper right of the screen in the manner shown in FIG. In step S17, the observation time measurement task shown in FIG. 15 is started or restarted in order to measure the time when the interpretation doctor observed the K-th body axis tomographic image.

  In step S51, the timer TM1 is reset and the camera 24 is activated. The camera 24 is placed in the vicinity of the monitor 20 and outputs a camera image representing a subject in front of the monitor screen at a specified period (specified period: for example, 1 second).

  If the interpretation doctor's face faces the monitor screen, the camera 24 outputs a camera image shown in FIG. If the image interpretation doctor turns away from the monitor screen, the camera 24 outputs a camera image shown in FIG. Further, if the image interpretation doctor has left, the camera 24 outputs a camera image shown in FIG. The camera image output in this way is written in the work area 22w of the DRAM 22.

  In step S53, it is repeatedly determined whether or not the same cycle as the output cycle of the camera image has come. When the determination result is updated from NO to YES, the process proceeds to step S55, and face search processing for the camera image stored in the work area 22w is executed.

  Specifically, the face search process is a process of searching a partial image that matches the dictionary image stored in the HDD 18 from the camera image on the work area 22w. In this embodiment, a face image representing the front or substantially front of the face is prepared as a dictionary image.

  Therefore, the result of the face search process targeting the camera image shown in FIG. 5A indicates “detection”, while the face search process targeting the camera image shown in FIG. 5B or 5C. The result of "No detection" indicates.

  In other words, even if the interpreting doctor is seated in front of the monitor screen, if the interpreting doctor's face is facing a different direction from the monitor screen, the interpreting doctor is not facing the monitor screen, and the face search process The result is “non-detection”.

  Returning to FIG. 15, in step S57, it is determined whether the result of the face search process indicates “detection” or “non-detection”. If the result of the face search process is “non-detection”, the process proceeds to step S59 to determine whether or not the timer TM1 is measuring time. If the determination result is NO, that is, if the timer TM1 is stopped, the process returns to step S53 as it is. On the other hand, if the determination result is YES, the timer TM1 is stopped in step S61, and the process returns to step S53.

  If the result of the face search process is “detect”, the process proceeds to step S63 to determine whether or not the timer TM1 is stopped. If the determination result is NO, that is, if the timer TM1 is measuring time, the process proceeds to step S67 as it is. On the other hand, if the determination result is YES, the timer TM1 is started or restarted in a step S65, and then the process proceeds to a step S67.

  In step S67, the value of the timer TM1 (= current observation time) is added to the value (= the previous observation time) set in the Kth column of the register RGST1. When the interpretation start operation corresponds to the interpretation restart operation, the observation time of the K-th body axis tomographic image is updated based on the observation information acquired in step S7.

  In step S69, a histogram (statistical information) indicating the observation time set in the register RGST1 is drawn or updated in the vicinity of the coronary tomographic image developed in the display area 22m. The histogram has a vertical axis (first axis) extending along the reference axis arranged in the coronal tomographic image and a horizontal axis (second axis) defining the observation time, as shown in FIG. Displayed or updated in the vicinity of the coronal tomographic image. In the coronal tomographic image, the reference axis extends in the vertical direction, and the position of the body axis cross section orthogonal to the reference axis is assigned to the vertical axis of the histogram.

  When the process of step S69 is completed, the process returns to step S53. Therefore, the process of step S69 for displaying or updating the histogram is executed in parallel with the processes of steps S53 to S67 for measuring the observation time of the Kth body axis tomographic image.

  Returning to FIG. 13, in step S19, it is determined whether or not a paging operation (update operation) has been performed by the keyboard / mouse 16. If the determination result is YES, the variable K is updated in step S21, and then the process proceeds to step S15. Return.

  Here, the paging operation is an operation of pressing the “PageUp” button or the “PageDown” button, and the value of the variable K is determined when the state in which the pressing is released continues for a predetermined time.

  Therefore, when the “PageUp” button or the “PageDown” button is pressed only once, the value of the variable K after the update shows a continuous value with respect to the value of the variable K before the update. On the other hand, when the “PageUp” button or the “PageDown” button is pressed a plurality of times at intervals less than the predetermined time, the value of the variable K after the update is discontinuous with respect to the value of the variable K before the update. The value is shown.

  When such a paging operation is repeated, the body axis tomographic image displayed on the upper right of the screen is updated as shown on the right side of FIG. 6 and the right side of FIG. The histogram is updated in the manner shown on the left side of FIG. 6 and the left side of FIG. 7 in consideration of the observation time of the displayed body axis tomographic image. When the number of paging operations reaches a certain value, characters “0”, “5”, “10”, “20” are displayed side by side in the length direction of the bars forming the histogram (see FIG. 8). . The process for displaying such characters is executed in step S69.

  If the decision result in the step S19 is NO, it is judged in a step S23 whether or not an interpretation end operation has been performed by the keyboard / mouse 16. If the determination result is NO, the process returns to step S19, and if the determination result is YES, the observation time measurement task is stopped in step S25.

  In step S27, the total value of the Kmax observation times set in the register RGST1 is calculated. In step S29, it is determined whether or not the calculated total value is equal to or greater than a threshold value TH1. If the determination result is NO, the process proceeds directly to step S37, while if the determination result is YES, the following process is executed in steps S31 to S35, and then the process proceeds to step S37. Accordingly, the processes in steps S31 to S35 are activated when the total value of the observation times is equal to or greater than the threshold value TH1.

  In step S31, a reference line indicating the threshold value TH2 (<< TH1) is drawn on the histogram drawn in the display area 22m. The drawn reference line is displayed in a multiple manner as shown in FIG. In step S33, 1 or 2 or more columns each having a value greater than or equal to the threshold TH2 are identified from the register RGST1, and 1 or 2 or more axial tomographic images respectively corresponding to the identified 1 or 2 or more columns are obtained. Extract from work area 22w.

  In step S35, a list of one or more extracted body axis tomographic images is developed in the lower right of the display area 22m. When eight body axis tomographic images shown on the right side of FIG. 10 are extracted in step S33, a list of these eight body axis tomographic images is developed in the lower right of the display area 22m. The developed list is read by the monitor 20 and displayed at the lower right of the screen in the manner shown in FIG.

  In step S37, it is repeatedly determined whether or not an “X” button (not shown) on the screen has been clicked by the keyboard / mouse 16. When the determination result is updated from NO to YES, the display area 22m is cleared in step S39. As a result, the monitor 20 is not displayed.

  In step S41, information indicating the observation time set in the register RGST1, that is, observation information is transferred to the PACS 40 through the communication I / F 12. The transferred observation information is stored in the PACS 40. When the process of step S41 is completed, the process returns to step S1.

  As can be seen from the above description, the communication I / F 12 is a plurality of body axis tomographic images each corresponding to a plurality of positions in the extending direction of the body axis passing through the patient's body and each representing a cross section orthogonal to the body axis. To get. The acquired plurality of body axis tomographic images are temporarily stored in the DRAM 22. The CPU 14 displays one of the plurality of body axis tomographic images stored in the DRAM 22 on the monitor 20 (S15), and updates the body axis tomographic image of the monitor 20 in response to the paging operation (S19, S21). . The CPU 14 also measures the time when the interpreting doctor faces the monitor screen, that is, the observation time by the interpreting doctor for each body axis tomographic image (S51 to S67), and extracts some body axis tomographic images based on the measured observation time. (S33, S35).

  The body axis tomographic image displayed on the monitor screen is updated in response to the paging operation. The time when the interpreting doctor faces the monitor screen, that is, the observation time is measured for each body axis tomographic image, and is based on the measured observation time. Thus, a part of the body axis tomographic image is extracted. Since the axial tomographic image with a long observation time can be regarded as an interest image that the interpreting physician has shown interest in, a part of the axial tomographic image is extracted based on the observation time to assist in interpretation Efficiency.

  In this embodiment, the list of body axis tomographic images is only displayed at the end of the interpretation, but the list of body axis tomographic images may be displayed even when the interpretation is resumed. In this case, the CPU 14 executes the processes of steps S71 to S83 shown in FIG. 16 after the process of step S7. However, since the process of steps S71 to S79 is the same as the process of steps S27 to S35 shown in FIG. 12 except that the process proceeds to step S9 when the determination result of step S73 is NO, overlapping description is omitted. Omitted.

  In step S81, it is repeatedly determined whether or not a non-display operation has been performed with the keyboard / mouse 16. When the determination result is updated from NO to YES, the list developed in the display area 22m is deleted in step S83. That is, the list developed in the display area 22m is deleted prior to the paging operation. As a result, the list on the monitor 20 is hidden. When the process of step S83 is completed, the process proceeds to step S9.

  In this embodiment, the coronal tomographic image is displayed as a reference tomographic image. However, the sagittal tomographic image may be displayed as a reference tomographic image instead of or together with the coronal tomographic image.

  Further, in this embodiment, the body axis tomographic images showing the observation time value equal to or greater than the threshold value TH2 are only displayed as a list on the monitor 20. However, the body axis tomographic image showing the observation time value equal to or greater than the threshold TH2 may be attached to the interpretation report or stored in the PACS 40.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the “PageUp” button or the “PageDown” button is pressed as a paging operation. However, a scroll operation using a mouse wheel may be assumed as a paging operation.

  Further, in this embodiment, even if the interpreting doctor is seated in front of the monitor screen, the interpreting doctor does not face the monitor screen as long as the face of the interpreting doctor faces a direction different from the direction of the monitor screen. To be judged. However, as long as at least a part of the face of the interpreting doctor appears in the camera image, the interpreting doctor may determine that it is facing the monitor screen.

10 ... Interpretation support device 14 ... CPU
16 ... Keyboard / mouse 20 ... Monitor 22 ... DRAM
24 ... Camera 30 ... MRI device 40 ... PACS
50 ... Hospital LAN

Claims (14)

Tomographic image acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of tomographic images respectively corresponding to a plurality of positions in the extending direction of the reference axis passing through the patient's body and each representing a cross section orthogonal to the reference axis;
A tomographic image display means for displaying any one of a plurality of tomographic images acquired by the tomographic image acquiring means on a monitor screen;
A tomographic image update means for updating a tomographic image displayed by the tomographic image display means in response to an update operation;
Time measuring means for measuring the time when the image reader faces the monitor screen for each tomographic image displayed by the tomographic image display means, and a part of the plurality of tomographic images based on the time measured by the time measuring means Interpretation support apparatus provided with tomographic image extraction means for extracting. A camera that repeatedly outputs an image representing a subject in front of the monitor screen;
2. The image interpretation unit according to claim 1, wherein the time measurement unit includes a search unit that searches the face image of the image interpreter from an output image of the camera, and an accumulation unit that accumulates a time when a search result of the search unit indicates detection. Support device. Reference tomographic image display means for displaying a reference tomographic image representing a cross section orthogonal to the reference axis at a predetermined position in the extending direction of the reference axis that penetrates the patient's body, and statistically the time displayed by the time measuring means The image interpretation support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: statistical information display means for displaying the statistical information represented by the reference tomographic image displayed by the reference tomographic image display means.   The statistical information corresponds to a histogram having a first axis extending along the reference axis arranged in the reference tomographic image, and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and defining the time. The image interpretation support apparatus according to claim 3.   5. The image interpretation support apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the statistical information display means updates the statistical information in parallel with the processing of the time measuring means.   The image interpretation support apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the reference tomographic image is at least one of a coronal tomographic image and a sagittal tomographic image.   The image interpretation support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tomographic image extraction unit includes a tomographic image detection unit that detects a tomographic image whose time exceeds a threshold as a tomographic image to be extracted.   The interpretation support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tomographic image extraction unit includes a first tomographic image display unit that displays a part of the plurality of tomographic images.   9. The interpretation support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising time information storage means for storing time information indicating the time measured by the time measurement means at the end of interpretation. Further comprising time information acquisition means for acquiring the time information stored by the time information storage means at the time of resuming the interpretation,
The image interpretation support apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the time measurement unit updates the time value based on the time information acquired by the time information acquisition unit. Second tomographic image display means for displaying a part of the plurality of tomographic images based on the time information acquired by the time information acquiring means; and the tomographic image displayed by the second tomographic image display means as the tomographic image. The image interpretation support apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a tomographic image non-display unit that is not displayed prior to the processing of the update unit. 12. A calculation unit that calculates a total value of times measured by the time measurement unit, and an activation unit that activates the tomographic image extraction unit according to the total value calculated by the calculation unit. The interpretation support device according to any one of the above. Executed by an image interpretation support apparatus comprising tomographic image acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of tomographic images respectively corresponding to a plurality of positions in the extending direction of a reference axis passing through the patient's body and each representing a cross section orthogonal to the reference axis. An interpretation support method,
A tomographic image display step of displaying any one of a plurality of tomographic images acquired by the tomographic image acquiring means on a monitor screen;
A tomographic image update step of updating the tomographic image displayed by the tomographic image display step in response to an update operation;
A time measuring step for measuring a time during which an image interpreter faces the monitor screen for each tomographic image displayed by the tomographic image display step; and a part of the plurality of tomographic images based on the time measured by the time measuring step An interpretation support method, comprising a tomographic image extraction step of extracting the image. To a processor of an image interpretation support apparatus comprising tomographic image acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of tomographic images respectively corresponding to a plurality of positions in the extending direction of a reference axis passing through a patient's body and each representing a cross section orthogonal to the reference axis ,
A tomographic image display step of displaying any one of a plurality of tomographic images acquired by the tomographic image acquiring means on a monitor screen;
A tomographic image update step of updating the tomographic image displayed by the tomographic image display step in response to an update operation;
A time measuring step for measuring a time during which an image interpreter faces the monitor screen for each tomographic image displayed by the tomographic image display step; and a part of the plurality of tomographic images based on the time measured by the time measuring step Interpretation support program for executing a tomographic image extraction step for extracting the image.

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