JP4976805B2 - Breast tomography equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a breast tomography apparatus that performs tomography of a breast.

  In a conventional mammography apparatus, a plurality of images obtained by digital tomography are sequentially displayed on a display device as a moving image for observation by a doctor. FIG. 12 shows such a situation (see Non-Patent Document 1). As shown in FIG. 12, after the breast is compressed with a detector and a compression plate, imaging is performed from a plurality of angles. Thereby, a cross-sectional image of the breast is obtained. As another method, a method of reconstructing each slice using tomographic data of breast has been reported (see Non-Patent Document 2).

However, although the calcified shadow is displayed in the conventional cross-section moving image display, there is a problem that the distribution in the thickness direction is unknown or unclear. Moreover, even if a tumor shadow is displayed, it is difficult to determine whether it is a true tumor that is three-dimensionally spherical or not. Therefore, it cannot be said that the conventional display method has good diagnostic efficiency and accuracy.
Breast Tomosynthesis: Methods and Applications1 2004 Syllabus Advances in Breast Imaging: Physics, Technology, and Clinical Applications Categorical Course in Diagnostic Radiology Physics, RSNA'04 Trial of digital simultaneous multi-layer tomography by digital X-ray television Journal of Japanese Society of Radiological Technology, P821, Vol.57, No.7, 2001

  An object of this invention is to provide the technique which improves diagnostic efficiency and diagnostic accuracy.

The breast tomography apparatus according to this embodiment irradiates a subject with X-rays to acquire image data of the subject's breast, and acquires three-dimensional breast information based on the image data. Three-dimensional information acquisition means, the three-dimensional information is displayed as a plurality of cross-sectional images from three different directions for the left and right breasts, and in the plurality of cross-sectional images related to any one of the left and right breasts, When an arbitrary position is specified for the cross-sectional image corresponding to one direction among the three directions, the position corresponds to two directions different from the one direction among the three directions, and the specified position. A display means for displaying a plurality of cross-sectional images including the cross-sectional image and a cross-sectional image in which the arbitrary position is designated.

  According to the present invention, diagnostic efficiency and diagnostic accuracy are improved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the basic system 1.
In FIG. 1, the C-arm 5 is constructed by integrating an X-ray generator 2, a compression plate 3, and an X-ray detector 4, and can be rotated in the direction of an arrow 1a, that is, left and right. Further, the compression plate 3 is movable in the direction of the arrow 1b, that is, the vertical direction.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the basic system 1. The basic system 1 includes an X-ray generator 2, an X-ray detector 4, an input device 6, a RISI / F (interface) unit 8, a display device such as a monitor (for example, LCD), an output device 10 including a printer, a system The system is composed of the disk 12, the memory 14, the central control device 16, and the barcode reader 18, and the system is composed of only one photographing device like the existing mammography. In addition, everything from image capture to output is performed all at once in the system. Since the above configuration has the same function as a conventionally used device, detailed description thereof is omitted.

The X-ray generator 2 will be briefly described. The X-ray generator 2 is controlled by the central controller 16. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the X-ray generator 2. The X-ray generator 2 includes an X-ray tube 20, a high pressure generation unit 22, an X-ray controller 24, an AEC 30, a filter switching unit 26, a compression pressure control unit 28, a pre-exposure image input unit 32, and a control panel 34. As the main function,
a. A function to set the most suitable shooting conditions for each examination,
b. Functions to control breast compression in relation to X-ray exposure
Have Each of these two functions a and b will be described.

  Regarding the function a for setting the imaging conditions most suitable for each examination, the setting of the imaging conditions here means the type of filter that defines the X-ray quality, kVp (X-ray tube voltage), mA (X-rays). Tube current) and mSec (X-ray pulse width) are set appropriately. The imaging conditions are determined based on the pre-exposed image obtained by performing pre-exposure immediately before imaging. In addition, pre-exposure conditions, that is, the types of filters that define the quality of X-rays, kVp (X-ray tube voltage), mA (X-ray tube current), and mSec (X-ray pulse width) are different for each patient. The types are classified according to the patient information, that is, the age of the patient, the hardness of the breast, the thickness of the breast, and the size of the breast, and are determined based on an imaging condition determination table that gives pre-exposure conditions for each type.

  Next, the function b that controls breast compression in relation to X-ray exposure will be described. Pressing the breast with equal pressure from setting to the end of imaging may put a burden on the patient. For this reason, compression is appropriately controlled in order to relieve breast compression as much as possible. In other words, the pressure is slightly loose before shooting, plus compression is performed immediately before shooting, an appropriate compression value is set, and the image is released immediately after the end.

  The operation of the mammography apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. In the present embodiment, the method for acquiring image data is the same as the conventional method, but the method for displaying the output image displayed on the monitor of the output device 10 is characterized. Specifically, in this embodiment, in addition to the conventional normal display method, cross-sectional images from other directions are displayed. Note that these data are image data that can be acquired by a normal diagnosis similar to the conventional one, and it is not necessary to acquire a special image to apply to the present invention. The display method like this is realized. This process is all executed by the central controller 16.

First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an image display example according to the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, cross-sectional images from three different directions are displayed. Specifically, it is as follows.
As shown in FIG. 4, in addition to the image 51 (61) corresponding to the normal mammography image, the first mammogram display area 50 and the right mammogram display area 60 are displayed in the thickness direction of the compressed breast. An image 52 (62) of the section viewed from the nipple and an image 53 (63) of the second section orthogonal to the first section in the thickness direction of the compressed breast are displayed. For example, in the image displayed in the display area 50 of the left breast image, it is assumed that a portion 50a that seems to be abnormal as shown in FIG. 4 is observed. In this case, only a circular image can be observed in the image 51, but it can be confirmed from the images 52 and 53 that the shape of the portion 50a is a football-like shape. In addition, it is preferable that said cross-sectional image is an addition process cross-sectional image, and in the following description, unless otherwise specified, a cross-sectional image shall be handled as an addition process cross-sectional image. Here, the addition processing cross-sectional image is obtained by performing addition processing on a cross-sectional image included in a certain thickness, and the addition processing is performed by simple averaging, MIP (Maximum Intensity Projection), or the like.

A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an image display example according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 5, the same parts as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, images from three different directions, that is, images from other directions are displayed in addition to normal image display. Further, in the present embodiment, when a certain part of the addition processing cross-sectional image from three directions is designated, the addition processing cross-sectional image of the related cross-section in the other direction is displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 5, when an arbitrary point in the image 61 is designated, the respective cross-sectional images including the designated point in the image 62 and the image 63 are displayed. In FIG. 5, a portion indicated by a broken line indicates that a cross-sectional image of a plane including the broken line is displayed in the image 62 and the image 63 (the same applies hereinafter). Thereby, the cross-sectional image in an arbitrary part is displayed.

  6 and 7 are diagrams showing a modification of FIG. FIG. 6 shows that when an arbitrary point of the image 63 is designated, a cross-sectional image including the designated point is displayed on the images 61 and 62. FIG. 7 shows that when an arbitrary point of the image 62 is designated, a cross-sectional image including the designated point is displayed in the image 61 and the image 63. Note that the images 62 and 63 may be cross-sectional images or representative images (mip images or the like) generated from a plurality of cross-sectional images.

  Next, another modification of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another modification of the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment, any one of the images 51 to 53 from three directions is selected for any one of the left and right breast images 51 (61) (for example, the image 51). When a certain part is designated, a cross-sectional image of a related cross-section in another direction is displayed. Furthermore, in this embodiment, for example, when an arbitrary part of one breast image 51 (or 52, 53) is designated by an observer's instruction, the other breast image 61 (and 62, 63). An image of a cross section corresponding to the same position is displayed.

A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an image display example according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 9, the same parts as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
Since the breast tomography apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention acquires the three-dimensional information of the breast, a plurality of continuous cross-sectional images (images 51a to 53a) are generated and displayed while switching (that is, moving images) Display). Since the plurality of cross-sectional images are finite, it is preferable to display the plurality of cross-sectional images cyclically. Specifically, a display method is performed in which the first generated image is sequentially displayed, and when the last image is displayed, the display is returned to the first image and sequentially displayed. For this reason, in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, in addition to displaying images from three different directions, moving images are displayed independently for the image displays from the three directions. . Here, the images 52 and 53 (62 and 63) occupy a small display area on the screen as compared with the case where the image 51 (61) is displayed as a moving image. Therefore, since the observer's line-of-sight movement is reduced, there is an advantage that even if a moving image is displayed, oversight when there is an abnormal part is reduced.

A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an image display example according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 10, the same parts as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
In the present embodiment, when a cross-sectional image is displayed as a moving image, a position corresponding to the displayed image among a plurality of images is displayed on a cross-sectional image in another direction. For example, in FIG. 10, when the image 51b is displayed as the image 51 among the plurality of cross-sectional images 51a, the corresponding positions of the image 51a are represented in the image 52 and the image 53 by Δ (hereinafter “position”). This is referred to as a “display mark”. This position display mark is displayed while moving according to the displayed image when a movie is displayed, but is not displayed when a movie is displayed, and is displayed when the movie stops. You may make it do. In this display method, not only the image 51 (61) but also any of the image 52 (62) and the image 53 (63) are displayed as a moving image, or the user wants to see a cross-sectional image of a desired portion. It is applicable to cases. FIG. 11 shows an application example of this embodiment when the image 52 is displayed as a moving image.

As described above, in each of the above embodiments, different cross-sectional images are displayed simultaneously.
1) The distribution of calcification can be clearly understood in a three-dimensional manner.
2) For a tumor, it is easy to determine whether a pattern that appears circular in a certain cross section is also spherical in three dimensions (for example, as described in the embodiment, it is elliptical in a cross section from another direction). .
As a result, the diagnostic efficiency and diagnostic accuracy are improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention at the stage of implementation. In each of the above embodiments, images from three different directions are displayed simultaneously. However, images from two directions may be displayed simultaneously, and images from four or more directions may be displayed simultaneously. Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements.

  In addition, for example, even if some structural requirements are deleted from all the structural requirements shown in each embodiment, the problem described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and the effect described in the effect of the invention Can be obtained as an invention.

1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a basic system 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a basic system 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of an X-ray generator 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of an image display concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of an image display which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of FIG. It is a figure which shows the other modification of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of an image display concerning 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of an image display concerning 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the other example of image display which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Basic system, 2 ... X-ray generator, 3 ... Compression board, 4 ... X-ray detection device, 5 ... C arm, 6 ... Input device, 8 ... RISI / F part, 10 ... Output device, 12 ... System Disk, 14 ... Memory, 16 ... Central control unit, 18 ... Barcode reader.

Claims (2)

Means for irradiating the subject with X-rays to obtain image data of the subject's breast;
3D information acquisition means for acquiring 3D information of the breast based on the image data;
Displaying the three-dimensional information as a plurality of cross-sectional images from three different directions for the left and right breasts;
In the plurality of cross-sectional images related to any one of the left and right breasts, when an arbitrary position is specified with respect to a cross-sectional image corresponding to one of the three directions, the three of the three directions A plurality of cross-sectional images each corresponding to two directions different from one direction and including the designated position, and display means for displaying the cross-sectional image designated by the arbitrary position;
The display means includes
When the arbitrary position is specified, in the plurality of cross-sectional images related to the other of the left and right breasts, a cross-sectional image corresponding to the one direction and corresponding to a position equivalent to the specified position And further displaying a plurality of cross-sectional images respectively corresponding to the two directions and including the equivalent position,
Breast tufts tomograph said. An input means for designating an arbitrary position with respect to a cross-sectional image corresponding to one of the three directions in the plurality of cross-sectional images related to any one of the left and right breasts;
The breast tomography apparatus according to claim 1 .

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