JP5134287B2 - Medical image display device, medical image display method, program, storage medium, and mammography device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for displaying an image related to a breast of a subject, and more particularly to a medical image display apparatus, a medical image display method, a program, a storage medium, and a mammography apparatus that display breast images side by side.

Conventionally, a diagnostic image such as an X-ray image (mammography image) obtained by imaging the breast of a subject is interpreted to find a lesion, and the state of the lesion is observed to diagnose the presence or progression of the disease. It is generally done.

In such a diagnosis, when displaying an image of a breast, in order to facilitate comparative interpretation of the left and right breasts of the subject, the breast walls of the left and right breasts are displayed side by side so as to be aligned. . The focus is on the structure of the left and right breasts, and when a shadow that is suspected of being abnormal is found in one breast, a similar shadow also exists at the corresponding position in the other image. Depending on whether or not you can confirm whether it is an abnormal shadow such as cancer or not,
It is possible to reduce oversight at the time of diagnosis.

However, the left and right breasts may not be output symmetrically simply by aligning the left and right breast images so that the chest walls are aligned due to misalignment of the positioning at the time of imaging.

Therefore, when the left and right breast images to be compared are displayed side by side, the positions of the nipple vertices of the left and right breast images are detected, and the left and right nipple vertex positions are symmetrical with respect to the detected nipple vertex position. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
).
JP 2006-102091 A

However, in the method described in Patent Document 1, there is an image in which nipples do not exist due to the imaging technique of the operator and the physical characteristics of the subject, and it is not possible to deal with images in which the positions of the nipple vertices cannot be detected. Therefore, it may be necessary to manually align the breast image with such an image.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to display two different breast images so that they can be easily interpreted, and to improve the accuracy of interpretation.

In order to achieve the above object, image peripheral cutting means for cutting an unnecessary peripheral region of the first breast image and the second breast image obtained by photographing the breast of the subject, the first breast image and the first breast image A large pectoral muscle part cutting means that cuts out a large pectoral muscle portion reflected on the chest wall side of the breast image of the second breast image, and a first breast whose peripheral part is cut out by the image peripheral cutting means and the pectoral muscle part cutting means a center-of-gravity position detecting means for detecting the position of the center of gravity of the breast region of the breast region and the second breast image of the image, the center of gravity of the breast region of said second breast image and the center of gravity of the breast region of said first breast image , Center-of-gravity positioning means for aligning the first breast image and the second breast image so as to align with the direction in which the first breast image is aligned, and the first breast image whose center-of-gravity position is aligned by the center-of-gravity positioning means And the second breast image Characterized in that it comprises a display means for displaying base.

Further, an image peripheral cropping means cutting the unwanted peripheral region of the first breast image center of gravity information is not attached in the breast region of the at least two breast images of a subject breast is photographed, the first A large pectoral muscle part cutting means that cuts out a large pectoral muscle portion reflected on the chest wall side of one breast image, and the image peripheral cutting means and the first part whose peripheral part has been cut out by the large pectoral muscle part cutting means. a center-of-gravity position detecting means for detecting the position of the center of gravity of the breast image, the center of gravity of the breast region of said first breast image of the breast area second breast image which the center of gravity position information and center-of-gravity position is attached of the Center of gravity alignment means for aligning the first breast image and the second breast image so as to align with the direction in which the first breast image and the second breast image are aligned; the first breast image whose center of gravity position is aligned by the center of gravity alignment means; Second Characterized in that it comprises display means for displaying side by side breast image.

In addition, an unnecessary peripheral region of the first breast image and the second breast image in which the breast of the subject is imaged is cut out, and the large image is reflected on the chest wall side of the first breast image and the second breast image. A pectoral muscle part is cut out, and a barycentric position of the breast area of the first breast image and the breast area of the second breast image in which the peripheral part is cut out by the peripheral cutting part of the image and the large pectoral muscle part cutting unit is detected; the center of gravity of the breast area of the detected said center of gravity position of the breast region of the first breast image second breast image, aligned to the direction of arranging the first breast image and the second breast image Thus, the first breast image and the second breast image in which the positions of the center of gravity are aligned are displayed side by side.

In addition, an image peripheral cutting function for cutting an unnecessary peripheral region of the first breast image and the second breast image obtained by photographing the breast of the subject, and a chest wall of the first breast image and the second breast image A pectoralis major part cut-out function that cuts out the pectoralis major part reflected in the side, a breast region and a first breast image of the first breast image in which the peripheral part is cut out by the image peripheral cut-out means and the large pectoral muscle cut-out means A center-of-gravity position detecting function for detecting a center-of-gravity position of a breast region of the second breast image, a center-of-gravity position of the breast region of the first breast image, and a center of gravity position of the breast region of the second breast image are A center-of-gravity alignment function that aligns the breast image and the second breast image so as to align with the direction in which the breast image and the second breast image are aligned; Display that displays breast images side by side Characterized in that to execute the ability to computer.

Also, an imaging means for imaging two different breasts by irradiating the breast of the subject with X-rays, an image generating means for generating medical image data of the breast of the subject imaged by the imaging means, Image peripheral cutting means for cutting unnecessary peripheral regions of the generated first breast image and second breast image, and a large breast reflected on the chest wall side of the first breast image and the second breast image and pectoralis major portion cut means cutting the muscle portion, the breast region of said image surrounding cropping means and the first breast image of the breast area and a second breast image peripheral portion is cut by the pectoralis major portion cut means Centroid position detecting means for detecting the centroid position of the first breast image, and the centroid position of the breast area of the first breast image and the centroid position of the breast area of the second breast image are the first breast image and the second breast image. It aligns with the direction to arrange breast images And a display means for displaying the first breast image and the second breast image that are aligned at the center of gravity by the center of gravity positioning means. .

According to the present invention, two different breast images can be displayed in an easily readable manner, and the accuracy of interpretation can be improved.

Embodiments of a medical image management system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the right breast image Sr obtained by photographing the right breast of the same subject and the left breast image S1 obtained by photographing the left breast are aligned. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a medical image display apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the medical image display device 1 captures the left and right breasts of a subject and displays each breast image S.
Mammography means 2 for obtaining (hereinafter, the right breast image Sr and the left breast image S1 are simply referred to as a breast image S if they are not distinguished) and each breast image S or a subject attached to each breast image S Are connected to a storage device 3 for storing information and imaging conditions, and a monitor 12 for displaying a breast image S.

The mammography means 2 exposes the breast to X-rays, detects X-rays transmitted through the breast, generates image data from the detected X-rays, and obtains each breast image S, etc. Can be considered.

In addition, the medical image display apparatus 1 is configured such that the right breast image Sr and the left breast image Sl captured by the imaging unit 2 are in the MLO (Media-Lateral Oblique) direction or CC (
The photographing direction discriminating means 4 for discriminating from which direction of the (Cranio-caudal) direction the photographing is performed. The imaging direction discriminating unit 4 discriminates the imaging direction with reference to information on the imaging direction attached as the incidental information of the breast image S. Note that a method of attaching the image to the image may be conceived by inputting the photographing direction by an operator of the mammography apparatus or by automatically recognizing the mammography apparatus.

FIG. 2A shows a histogram of the breast image S. The medical image display device 1 includes a breast region extraction unit 5 that extracts a right breast region SR and a left breast region SL in which a breast is photographed from the right breast image Sr and the left breast image Sl photographed by the photographing unit 2. Specifically, FIG.
As shown in a), when the histogram HA is created from the captured left and right breast images S, two pixel value peaks appear, and the breast region Q (hereinafter, the right breast region SR and the left breast region SL are distinguished from each other). If not, the peak 20 of the breast region Q) appears in the middle, and the peak 21 of the background region B appears on the right side. Therefore, the binarization process is performed with the threshold Th1 indicating the boundary signal between the breast region Q and the background region B, and the breast image S as shown in FIG. 2B is displayed in the breast region Q (the hatched portion in FIG. 2B). ) And the background region B.

As a method of extracting the breast region Q, tracing is performed from the largest pixel value to the pixel value 0, the minimal point that appears first (Th1 in FIG. 2A) is detected, and the minimal value is detected. A method of extracting the breast region Q by separating the breast image S into the breast region Q and the background region B using a point as a boundary signal is also conceivable.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing that the peripheral portion of the breast image S is cut out. Medical image display device 1
Is provided with image peripheral cutout means 6 that cuts unnecessary upper and lower regions and left and right regions of each breast image S. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, the upper image cut line 25, the lower image cut line 26, the image chest wall side cut line 27, and the image anti-chest wall side cut line 28.
Thus, the image upper cut line 25, the image lower cut line 26, the image chest wall side cut line 27, and the image anti-chest wall side cut line are placed inwardly by the number of pixels arbitrarily determined in advance by the user from the four outermost sides of the image. 28 is set, and the part from the four sides of the image to each line is automatically cut out and excluded from the calculation of the image.

In the breast image S in the MLO direction as shown in FIG. 3A, the position of the lower cut line 26 of the image is the same as the lowermost part of the contour of the breast region Q (hereinafter referred to as skin line) or from the lowermost part. Alternatively, it may be automatically set inside several pixels. Further, FIG.
A breast image S in the C direction. In this case, the positions of the upper image cut line 25 and the lower image cut line 26 are the same as the uppermost and lowermost skin lines of the breast image S, or several pixels inside. It may be set automatically.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the cutout of the greater pectoral muscle part of the breast image S. When the breast is photographed from the MLO direction, the greater pectoral muscle is often photographed together with the breast as shown in FIG. Therefore, the pectoralis major part cutting means 7 provided in the medical image display apparatus 1 is provided with a photographing direction determining means 4.
The pectoralis major portion is cut out from the breast image S determined to be in the MLO direction by, and a portion unnecessary for interpretation is removed.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the breast image S cut by the image peripheral cutting means 6.
The point at which the upper image cut line 25 of the image intersects with the skin line of the captured great pectoral muscle is set as P, and an angle determined from the upper image cut line 25 through the intersection point P toward the chest wall (for example, A 60-degree) major pectoral cutout line 29 is drawn, and an image (pectoral pectoral muscle portion) from the pectoral cutout line 29 to the chest wall is cut out and removed from the calculation of the position of the center of gravity. It should be noted that the pectoralis major cut line 29 may be a pseudo extension of the pectoral skin line of the breast image S. In this case, by extracting the skin line and drawing the pectoral cutout line 29 on the skin line,
An image from the great pectoral cut line 29 to the chest wall side is cut out and removed from the calculation of the position of the center of gravity.

Further, the medical image display device 1 has a center-of-gravity position detection unit 8 and a center-of-gravity position alignment unit 9,
The display unit 11 includes a right breast image Sr and a left breast image Sl aligned by the center-of-gravity positioning unit 9 and displayed on the monitor 12 or the like.

数式（１）および（２）におけるシグマは乳房部分に含まれる画素の和をとることを意
味する。 FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating detection of the position of the center of gravity of the left breast image Sl. A method for detecting the position of the center of gravity is performed using a known technique. Specifically, the center-of-gravity position detection means 9 has an x-axis 30 and a y-axis 31 with the origin at the upper left of the image (the upper corner when displaying not on the chest wall side) as shown in FIG.
Is assumed. Further, of the left breast region SL extracted by the breast region extracting means 5, the peripheral region and the pectoralis muscle portion are captured when the imaging direction is the MLO direction, and the peripheral region is extracted when the imaging direction is the CC direction. The coordinates are (x_m, y_m), and the number of pixels included in the breast region Q is n. The coordinates 32 of the centroid position of the breast region Q are (x_g, y_g) and are obtained by the following calculation.

Sigma in Equations (1) and (2) means taking the sum of the pixels included in the breast.

Further, FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing that the positions of the center of gravity of the right breast region SR and the left breast region SL are matched. The center-of-gravity alignment means 11 performs alignment by aligning the coordinates 40 of the center of gravity of the right breast region SR and the coordinates 41 of the center of gravity of the left breast image SL.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, the y coordinate of the coordinate 41a of the center of gravity position of the left breast region SL is (y_g_l), and the y coordinate of the coordinate 41b of the right breast region SR is (y_g_r). As shown in FIG. 6B, the left and right centroids are aligned by using the y-coordinate 40b of the right breast image Sr having the smaller y-coordinate value and the y-coordinate 41b of the left breast image Sl having the larger y-coordinate. To match, y
The right breast image Sr with the smaller coordinates is translated downward, and y of the center of gravity position of the left and right breast regions Q
Make the coordinates the same. The following calculation is given as an example of an equation for matching the y coordinate of the center of gravity position.

y_g_l-y_g_r = y_g_a (3)
y_g_r + y_g_a = y_g_r + a (4)
y_g_l = y_g_r + a (5)
First, in FIG. 6A, the y-coordinate 40a (y_g_
1) The y coordinate 41a (y_g_r) of the right breast image Sr is subtracted from the difference in y coordinate (y_g_a).
). Thereafter, as shown in Equation (4) in FIG. 6B, the y-coordinate for alignment (y_g_r + a) is derived by adding the previously derived difference to the y-coordinate 41a of the right breast image Sr. Since y_g_l = (y_g_r + a) as in Equation (5), the right breast image is aligned by moving the y coordinate 41a of the right breast image to the y coordinate 41b in the entire right breast image.

Furthermore, the medical image display device 1 includes a centroid position storage unit 10 that stores the centroid position of each breast region Q derived by the centroid position detection unit 8 as supplementary information of the breast image S in the storage device 3 or the like.

Next, the operation of the medical image display apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation flow of the medical image display apparatus of the present invention.

First, the right breast image Sr or the left breast image Sl photographed by the photographing means 2 is stored in the storage device 3.
(Step S1). As an example, the case where the right breast image Sr is read first will be described.

Next, in (Step S2), it is determined whether or not the right breast image Sr has barycentric position information which is incidental information. For example, when the center of gravity position information is held, the process proceeds to (step S8), and it is determined whether the left breast image S1 to be compared is prepared. For example, one breast image S
Has a center of gravity position information and the other breast image S does not have a breast image S determined in (Step S3) and having the center of gravity position information is waiting in (Step S8). It becomes a state.

Further, if the right breast image Sr does not include the gravity center position information in (Step S2), the breast region extracting means 5 reads the right side as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). In order to derive the breast region SR of the breast image Sr, breast region extraction (histogram analysis) is performed.
By this histogram analysis, the right breast region SR is extracted (step S3).

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the image peripheral cutting means 6 cuts out the peripheral portion of the image of the extracted right breast region SR and removes it from the subsequent calculation region. The peripheral part is automatically cut out by the number of pixels from the outer frame of the image to the inside. However, if you want to cut a lot of the peripheral part, the operator can freely set the cutting lines 25-28. And can be cut out (step S4).

Next, it is determined whether the right breast image Sr is an image taken in the MLO direction or an image taken in the CC direction. This determination is performed by the shooting direction determination means 4 with reference to shooting direction information attached to the image (step S5).

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, when the right breast image Sr is in the MLO direction, it is necessary to remove the greater pectoral muscle portion that is not subject to interpretation from the subsequent calculations. An intersection point P is set, and a pectoral cutout line 29 of an angle (for example, 60 degrees) determined toward the chest wall side is drawn therefrom, and an image from the pectoral cutout line 29 to the chest wall side (pectoral pectoral muscle portion) Is removed from the calculation of the center of gravity position and the like (step S6). The angle of the pectoralis major cut line 29 with respect to the intersection point P can be arbitrarily set by the operator.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the center-of-gravity position detection means 8 includes a peripheral portion and a pectoral muscle portion of the right breast region SR extracted by the breast region extraction means 5 when the imaging direction is the MLO direction. ,
In the case of the CC direction, the coordinates of the pixels of the right breast region SR from which the peripheral portion is cut out are (x_m, y_m), and the number of pixels included in the right breast region SR is n. The right breast region S is then processed in the manner described above.
R center-of-gravity position coordinates (x_g_r, y_g_r) are derived (step S7).

Next, the center-of-gravity alignment means 9 determines whether or not a plurality of images for alignment are prepared (step S8). This is performed by checking whether there are two or more images having the gravity center position information sent to the gravity center alignment means 9. Note that another means for determining whether or not a plurality of images for aligning may be prepared may be provided. Here, if only one image has been sent, (Step S
1), the breast image to be aligned for comparison interpretation (left breast image Sl in this case)
Is read and moved to (Step 2).

Next, when two or more images for alignment are prepared, the center-of-gravity position alignment unit 9 calculates the center-of-gravity position coordinates derived by the center-of-gravity position detection unit 8, as shown in FIG. Positioning is performed using the y coordinate as a reference (step S9). Although the specific method is as described above, not only two images but also alignment for displaying three or more images side by side may be performed. In this case as well, the position of each breast image S is adjusted so that the remaining image matches the y coordinate with the image having the largest y coordinate.

Next, the display unit 11 displays the right breast image Sr and the left breast image Sl on which alignment has been performed, and displays them on the monitor 12 (step S10). When the left and right breasts are displayed, it is preferable to display them back to back so that the chest wall side is aligned. However, the display method may be displayed side by side so as to face the same direction, or the operator can select any display method.

The center-of-gravity position storage unit 10 stores the center-of-gravity position of each breast image S detected by the center-of-gravity position detection unit 8 as image supplementary information (step S11). The center-of-gravity position may be stored after the image is aligned or when the center-of-gravity position is detected before the image is aligned.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, two or more different breast images S can be accurately aligned using the gravity center position information, so that the interpretation time can be shortened, and the nipple is provided. Alignment can be performed without degrading accuracy even from breast images that do not have.

Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, since it is possible to perform alignment with accuracy from the breast image S having no nipple, it is not necessary for the operator to manually perform alignment before interpretation.

Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, since the breast image S once having acquired the center-of-gravity position information can store the center-of-gravity position information as the auxiliary information of the image, The center of gravity can be aligned without acquiring the center of gravity position information.

Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, when comparing an image with centroid position information with an image without centroid position information, the image with centroid position information is displayed as the centroid position information. Wait until the center of gravity position is detected for images that are not attached to the center of gravity, and alignment is performed when the center of gravity position information for both images is complete. Can be done.

Furthermore, the center-of-gravity alignment is not limited to the alignment of the two images, and a plurality of breast images can be aligned. In that case, a new breast image S is detected from the center of gravity position of at least two breast images S, and a new breast image S is detected and the same position as the previous two images is displayed. You can take a way to go.

In this embodiment, description is made by detecting the centroid position of the breast region, not the centroid position of the mammary gland, and aligning the centroid positions thereof. However, the mammary gland is detected and the centroid position of the mammary gland is extracted. Then, you can perform alignment. However, when the position of the center of gravity of the mammary gland is detected and aligned, it is considered difficult to separate the entire mammary gland from other parts by the pixel value because the mammary gland portion is close in pixel value. As described in the embodiment, it is easier and more reliable to perform alignment by detecting the position of the center of gravity from the breast region. Also, since the mammary gland has a small area, the position of the center of gravity is likely to change due to a slight difference between the left and right, and it is possible that the position of the center of gravity tends to shift. Since the area of the breast region itself is large, a slight difference in shape is less likely to appear in the difference in the position of the center of gravity, and an effect that it is difficult to shift the position can be obtained. Therefore, in this embodiment, the method of detecting the center of gravity of the breast region is described instead of the method of detecting the center of gravity of the mammary gland.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, in the present embodiment, an example in which the left and right breasts are aligned and displayed for comparative interpretation has been described. However, the present invention is also applied to the case where the current breast image and the past breast image are aligned for comparative interpretation. it can. Thereby, by comparing the current breast image with the past breast image, it is possible to reliably determine changes such as the growth of the lesion and the presence or absence of the lesion, so that the accuracy of interpretation is improved.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the left breast image S1 and the right breast image Sr that have been aligned are displayed back to back has been described, but this is because the breast image S photographed in the past and the breast image S photographed in the current examination are displayed. May be used when displaying the images, or they may be displayed in the same direction instead of being displayed side by side. As a result, it is possible to accurately compare the breast of the past subject with the current breast, and shorten the time for interpretation.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the medical image display apparatus of this invention. The figure which shows an example of breast area | region extraction of the medical image display apparatus of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the cutting of the image peripheral part of the medical image display apparatus of this invention. The figure which shows an example of cutting of the pectoralis major part of the medical image display apparatus of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the gravity center position detection of the medical image display apparatus of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the gravity center position alignment of the medical image display apparatus of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the flow of gravity center position alignment of the medical image display apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Medical image display apparatus 3 Memory | storage device 5 Breast area extraction means 8 Center of gravity position detection means 9 Center of gravity position alignment means 10 Center of gravity position storage means 11 Display means

Claims (10)

Image peripheral cutting means for cutting an unnecessary peripheral region of the first breast image and the second breast image in which the breast of the subject is imaged ;
A pectoralis major part cutout means for cutting out a pectoralis major portion reflected on the chest wall side of the first breast image and the second breast image;
Centroid position detection means for detecting the centroid position of the breast area of the first breast image and the breast area of the second breast image, the periphery of which has been cut by the image periphery cutting means and the pectoralis major part cutting means ;
The center of gravity of the breast region of the center of gravity position of the breast region of the first breast image second breast image is aligned so as to be aligned to the direction of arranging the first breast image and the second breast image Center of gravity alignment means for
A medical image display device comprising: display means for displaying the first breast image and the second breast image, the center of gravity of which is aligned by the center of gravity positioning means. Image peripheral cutting means for cutting an unnecessary peripheral region of the first breast image that is not accompanied by information on the center of gravity of the breast region among at least two breast images obtained by imaging the breast of the subject;
A pectoralis major part cutting means for cutting out a large pectoral muscle part reflected on the chest wall side of the first breast image;
A center-of-gravity position detecting means for detecting a center-of-gravity position of the first breast image from which a peripheral portion has been cut out by the image peripheral cut-out means and the pectoralis major part cut-out means ;
The center of gravity of the breast region of the second breast image which the center of gravity position information and center-of-gravity position of the breast region of said first breast image is attached is aligned with the first breast image and the second breast image A center-of-gravity positioning means for positioning so as to align with the direction;
A medical image display device comprising: display means for displaying the first breast image and the second breast image, the center of gravity of which is aligned by the center of gravity positioning means.   Corresponding to the breast image, the first breast image and the first breast image corresponding to at least one of the first breast image and the second breast image detected by the barycentric position detecting means. The medical image display apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a center-of-gravity position storage unit that stores at least one of the incidental information of the two breast images.   3. The medical image display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the center-of-gravity positioning unit performs positioning based on the center-of-gravity position information attached to the first breast image and the second breast image by the center-of-gravity position storage unit. .   The medical image display according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first breast image is a right breast image of a subject, and the second breast image is a left breast image of the subject. apparatus.   6. The medical use according to claim 1, wherein the first breast image is a past breast image of the subject, and the second breast image is a current breast image of the subject. Image display device. Cut out unnecessary peripheral areas of the first breast image and the second breast image in which the breast of the subject is imaged ,
Cutting out the greater pectoral muscle portion reflected on the chest wall side of the first breast image and the second breast image;
Detecting a barycentric position of the breast region of the first breast image and the breast region of the second breast image, the periphery of which has been cut off by the image peripheral cutting means and the pectoralis major part cutting means ;
The center of gravity of the breast area of the detected said center of gravity position of the breast region of the first breast image second breast image, aligned to the direction of arranging the first breast image and the second breast image Align so that
A medical image display method, wherein the first breast image and the second breast image with the same center of gravity are displayed side by side. An image peripheral cutout function that cuts out unnecessary peripheral areas of the first breast image and the second breast image in which the breast of the subject is imaged ;
A pectoralis major part cut-out function for cutting out a pectoralis major portion reflected on the chest wall side of the first breast image and the second breast image;
A center-of-gravity position detection function for detecting a center-of-gravity position of the breast area of the first breast image and the breast area of the second breast image, the periphery of which has been cut off by the image periphery cutting means and the pectoralis major part cutting means ;
The center of gravity of the breast region of the said center of gravity position of the breast region of the first breast image second breast image is positioned so as to be aligned to the direction of arranging the first breast image and the second breast image Center of gravity alignment function to align,
A program for causing a computer to execute a display function for displaying the first breast image and the second breast image in which the center of gravity positions are aligned by the center of gravity positioning function. An image peripheral cutout function that cuts out unnecessary peripheral areas of the first breast image and the second breast image in which the breast of the subject is imaged ;
A pectoralis major part cut-out function for cutting out a pectoralis major portion reflected on the chest wall side of the first breast image and the second breast image;
A center-of-gravity position detection function for detecting a center-of-gravity position of the breast area of the first breast image and the breast area of the second breast image, the periphery of which has been cut off by the image periphery cutting means and the pectoralis major part cutting means ;
The center of gravity of the breast region of the said center of gravity position of the breast region of the first breast image second breast image is positioned so as to be aligned to the direction of arranging the first breast image and the second breast image Center of gravity alignment function to align,
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a display function for displaying the first breast image and the second breast image in which the center of gravity is aligned by the center of gravity positioning function. An imaging means for imaging two different breasts by irradiating the breast of the subject with X-rays;
Image generating means for generating medical image data of the breast of the subject imaged by the imaging means;
Image peripheral cutting means for cutting unnecessary peripheral regions of the generated first breast image and second breast image;
A pectoralis major part cutout means for cutting out a pectoralis major portion reflected on the chest wall side of the first breast image and the second breast image;
Centroid position detection means for detecting the centroid position of the breast area of the first breast image and the breast area of the second breast image, the periphery of which has been cut by the image periphery cutting means and the pectoralis major part cutting means ;
The center of gravity of the breast region of the said center of gravity position of the breast region of the first breast image second breast image is positioned so as to be aligned to the direction of arranging the first breast image and the second breast image A center-of-gravity alignment means for alignment;
A mammography apparatus comprising: display means for displaying the first breast image and the second breast image whose center of gravity positions are aligned by the center of gravity positioning means.

Images