JP5209422B2 - Image diagnosis support apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image diagnosis support apparatus and a program, and more particularly to a technique of a quantitative confirmation method for a site where a thickness of a membrane (pleura) is abnormally thick.

  Mesothelioma is often discussed in the context of asbestos. Mesothelioma in this case is mostly malignant pleural mesothelioma. In a chest examination of a person who has inhaled a large amount of asbestos, it is necessary to find a site where the thickness of the pleura is abnormally thick (thickening).

As described in Non-Patent Document 1, a conventional method for detecting an abnormal site (thickened site) is generally a method in which a doctor observes a CT image and finds it visually.
“Examination of asbestos CT screening findings” Clinical Radiation Vol.52 No.1 2007, pages 175-180

  However, when the abnormal part is very small (for example, the thickness of the thickening is thin), there is a problem that the objectivity of the evidence of the judgment of “abnormal part” is lacking only by visual observation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image diagnosis support apparatus and program capable of presenting quantitative information useful for determining an abnormal site.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image diagnosis support apparatus and a program according to the present invention obtain a plurality of density value profiles (preferably density value profiles of a clearly apparent part and a suspicious part), respectively. The density value profiles of the two are quantitatively compared.

  More specifically, the diagnostic imaging support apparatus according to the present invention receives on the tomographic image of the subject displayed on the screen of the image display device an input that accepts a straight line that crosses a region where quantitative analysis is desired in the tomographic image. And a density value calculating means for reading out the density value on the straight line, and a measurement curve that is a density value profile in which the read density value is plotted along the position on the straight line. Is displayed on a coordinate system in which one axis indicates a position on the straight line and the other axis indicates a density value, and a reference curve that is a density value profile for comparison with the measurement curve is displayed in the coordinate system. Profile display means to be displayed above, associating means for associating the position of the one measurement direction with the reference curve on the coordinate system, the measurement curve and the reference curve Subtracting the door and comprising a result displaying means for displaying the subtraction result on the screen, the.

  “A site where quantitative analysis is desired” corresponds to a site in which an abnormality of the subject is suspected when the diagnostic imaging support apparatus according to the present invention is used to determine an abnormal site. For example, when used for image diagnosis support for malignant mesothelioma, the “site where quantitative analysis is desired” corresponds to a site between the pleura and the rib cage where pleural plaques are suspected to be expressed.

  In addition, the “reference curve that is a density value profile for making a comparison with the measurement curve” refers to a density that is observed in a normal part of a subject when the diagnostic imaging support apparatus according to the present invention is used to determine an abnormal part. Corresponds to the value profile. For example, in the case of the above-described image diagnosis support for malignant mesothelioma, this corresponds to a density value profile seen in a region from the pleura to the thorax without an abnormal candidate shadow such as pleural plaque.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image diagnosis support program that is installed in a computer to constitute the image diagnosis support apparatus.

  That is, the diagnostic imaging support program according to the present invention receives, on the tomographic image of the subject displayed on the screen of the image display device, an input of a straight line that traverses a site where quantitative analysis is desired in the tomographic image; A step of reading the density value on the straight line, and generating a measurement curve that is a density value profile in which the read density value is plotted along the position on the straight line. Displaying the position on the straight line and displaying on the coordinate system a reference curve which is a density value profile for making a comparison with the measurement curve while displaying on the coordinate system where the other axis indicates the density value; A step of associating the position of the measurement curve and the reference curve in the one axial direction on the coordinate system, subtracting the measurement curve and the reference curve, And displaying the results on the screen, the image diagnosis support method comprising, for characterized by causing a computer to execute.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to compare a measurement curve, which is a concentration value profile of a site where quantitative analysis of a subject is desired, with a reference curve and present an actual measurement value of the difference value. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an image diagnosis support apparatus that can present quantitative information useful for determining an abnormal site.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that components having the same function are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings for describing the embodiment of the invention, and the repetitive description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image diagnosis support apparatus according to the present invention. The image diagnosis support apparatus 10 includes, via the LAN 4, an X-ray CT apparatus 2 installed in a hospital or a medical examination center, and an image database 3 that can store and store tomographic images taken by the X-ray CT apparatus 2. Connected. The diagnostic imaging support apparatus 10 acquires a tomographic image obtained by imaging a subject from the X-ray CT apparatus 2 or the image database 3 via the LAN 4. In FIG. 1, the X-ray CT apparatus 2 is described as the tomographic imaging apparatus. However, the apparatus is not limited to the X-ray CT apparatus 2, and an apparatus capable of capturing a tomographic image of the subject such as an MRI apparatus may be used.

  The diagnostic imaging support apparatus 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11 that mainly controls the operation of each component, a main memory 12, a data storage device 13, a display memory 14 that temporarily stores display data, a liquid crystal monitor, An image display device 15 such as a CRT; a mouse 16 for operating soft switches on the image display device 15; a pointing device (not shown) such as a trackball and a touch panel; a controller 16a for the pointing device; A keyboard 17 having keys and switches for setting parameters, a network adapter 18 for connecting the diagnostic imaging support apparatus 10 to a network such as a LAN 4, a telephone line, the Internet, and a data bus 19 for connecting the above components Consists of. The data storage device 13 is a memory device such as a memory or a hard disk built in or externally attached to the diagnostic imaging support device 10, a device that writes data to or reads data from a removable external medium, or an external storage device and a network. A device that transmits and receives data via the network may be used.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an image diagnosis support program installed in the image diagnosis support apparatus 10.

  The image processing program inputs an image reading unit 11a that reads a tomographic image and a straight line that traverses a portion of the tomographic image for which quantitative analysis is desired on the tomographic image of the subject displayed on the screen of the image display device 15. An input unit 11b to receive, a density value calculation unit 11c that reads the density value on the straight line, and a measurement curve that is a density value profile that plots the read density value along the position on the straight line. The reference curve, which is a concentration value profile for displaying the measurement curve on a coordinate system in which one axis indicates the position on the straight line and the other axis indicates the concentration value, and is compared with the measurement curve. 11d on the coordinate system, and an associating unit for associating the position in the one axial direction of the measurement curve and the reference curve on the coordinate system Includes 1e, the subtracted the measurement curve and the reference curve, a result display section 11f for displaying the subtraction result to the screen, the.

  The image reading unit 11 a may receive and read a tomographic image from the X-ray CT apparatus 2 and the image database 3 via the LAN 4, or may read from a data storage device 13 included in the image diagnosis support apparatus 10. The above-described image processing program is loaded into the main memory 12 and fulfills its function by being executed by the CPU 11.

<First embodiment>
In the first embodiment, based on the tomographic image 41 obtained by imaging the lung field region of the subject with the X-ray CT apparatus 2, the thickness of the part (thickening) where the thickness of the pleura is abnormally thick is quantitatively determined. The processing of the image diagnosis support apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing performed by the image diagnosis support apparatus 10. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a screen display example. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a screen display example transitioned from FIG.

(Step S10)
The image reading unit 11 a reads a tomographic image obtained by imaging the lung field region of the subject by the X-ray CT apparatus 2 and displays it on the screen of the image display device 15. FIG. 4 is an example of this screen display. On the screen 40 in FIG. 4, a read tomographic image 41, an analysis icon 42 for executing the process following this step, and an end icon 43 for ending the process are displayed. The operator uses the mouse 16 to input straight lines to the clearly normal part on the tomographic image 41 and the part suspected of being abnormal, and the input unit 11b determines the coordinates of the input straight line on the tomographic image. Obtain (S10). In FIG. 4, a straight line input to a clearly normal part corresponds to a straight line 44, and a straight line input to a part suspected of being abnormal (a part for which quantitative analysis is desired) corresponds to a straight line 45. The straight line 44 and the straight line 45 may be displayed using different display colors.

  When it is desired to examine the thickness between the subject's pleura and thorax, a straight line that crosses the pleura and at least a partial region of the thorax is input. A straight line that crosses to the outside (air region) of the body surface of the specimen is input. Thus, when the density value profile of the normal part (hereinafter referred to as “reference curve”) and the density value profile of the part suspected of abnormality (hereinafter referred to as “measurement curve”) are associated in a later step. There is an advantage that correspondence can be made based on the concentration value of the air region.

  When the operator finishes inputting the straight line 44 and the straight line 45, the operator clicks the analysis icon 42.

(Step S11)
The associating unit 11d has the orientation of the straight line 44 and the straight line 45 in a part where one of the straight lines is closer to the pleura (ie, a part near the center of the body) and the other is closer to the rib cage (ie, a part near the outside of the body surface). The coordinates are transformed so that the directions of the straight line 44 and the straight line 45 are aligned (S11).

  In the case of an axial tomographic image obtained by imaging a lung field region, a straight line is aligned in the above direction. However, in the case of an image in which the center of the subject's body and the center of the image do not coincide, In the case of the tomographic images displayed along, the directions of the two straight lines are matched so that the portion close to the center of the tomographic images of both straight lines and the portion close to the outer edge of the tomographic image coincide. Note that the direction of both straight lines may be set from the outer edge of the image toward the center according to the convenience of the operator.

  Step S11 may be executed before displaying a plurality of density value profiles in step S13 described later. Therefore, the process of step S12 may be performed subsequent to step S10, and then the process of this step (S11) may be executed.

(Step S12)
The density value calculation unit 11 c calculates the density value on each straight line 44 and the straight line 45. The profile display unit 11d generates a density value profile in which the calculated density value is associated with the position on the straight line of the density value for each of the straight line 44 and the straight line 45 (S12). A density value profile indicating the density value distribution on the straight line 44 input to the normal part is referred to as a reference curve, and a density value profile indicating the density value distribution on the straight line 45 input to the part suspected of abnormality is referred to as a measurement curve.

(Step S13)
The profile display unit 11d displays the reference curve and the measurement curve on a two-dimensional coordinate system in which the vertical axis indicates the density value (CT value) and the horizontal axis indicates the position on the straight line (S13). FIG. 5 is a screen display example showing a screen 50 displaying a two-dimensional coordinate system in addition to the tomographic image 40, and corresponds to a screen transitioned from the screen 40 of FIG.

  On the screen 50, a two-dimensional coordinate graph display area 51 is displayed below the tomographic image 41. In the graph display area 51, a reference curve 54 and a measurement curve 55 are displayed.

  A density value input field 52 for designating a range of density values to be displayed is provided along the vertical axis of the two-dimensional coordinates in the graph display area 51. An operator inputs a maximum density value and a minimum density value that define a range of density values in the density value input field 52. Thereby, a range of density values to be displayed can be designated.

  Furthermore, on the vertical axis, a scale is given to units that are easily cut within the range of the specified density value (every 10 HU in FIG. 5). In order to make this scale easy to read, a density value association line 59 in which arbitrary coordinates of the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55 are associated with the scale is also displayed. When the operator clicks an arbitrary point on the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55 with the mouse 16, the density value association line 59 associates this point with the vertical axis, so that the density value at that point can be easily read. Can be done.

(Step S14)
The operator performs alignment in the horizontal axis direction by expanding / contracting or translating at least one of the displayed reference curve 54 and measurement curve 55 in the horizontal axis direction using the mouse 16. The operator observes where the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55 correspond to, for example, the skin and the ribs, and associates them with the mouse 16.

  The associating unit 11e expands / contracts and / or moves the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55 according to the expansion / contraction amount and / or the movement amount input by the mouse 16, and makes a straight line between the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55. The upper position (position in the horizontal axis direction) is associated (S14). This association is intended to make it easier to measure the size (thickness) of a part suspected of being abnormal in the measurement curve 55. Therefore, it is preferable that the position in the horizontal axis direction of the portion suspected of being abnormal in the measurement curve 55 and the position in the horizontal axis direction of the portion of the reference curve 54 corresponding to this portion are matched. For example, for the purpose of quantitative measurement of pleural mesothelioma, the measurement curve 55 is such that the vicinity of the pleura of the measurement curve 55 and the vicinity of the pleura of the reference curve 54 coincide in the horizontal axis direction. Alternatively, the reference curve 54 is expanded and / or moved.

(Step S15)
The result display unit 11f subtracts the density value having the same coordinate in the horizontal axis direction of the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55 (S15).

(Step S16)
The result display unit 11f generates a difference curve 56 obtained by plotting the subtraction result or the absolute value of the difference absolute value along the horizontal axis direction, and displays the difference curve 56 in the graph display area 51 (S15).

  On the screen 50 in FIG. 5, the position of the difference curve 56 in the horizontal axis direction and the positions of the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55 in the horizontal axis direction are displayed in association with each other. Further, two gauges 57L and 57R for designating a desired range of the difference curve 56 are displayed. The gauge 57L corresponds to the origin 0 mm of the scale 58 for displaying the actual dimensions. When the gauge 57L is moved in the left-right direction, the origin 0 mm of the scale 58 is also enlarged and narrowed. The interval between the graduations 58 (1 mm interval on the screen 50) is linked to the expansion / contraction rate of the measurement curve 55. That is, when the measurement curve 54 is extended in the left-right direction, the interval between the scales 58 is increased, and when the measurement curve 54 is reduced in the left-right direction, the interval between the scales 58 is also reduced.

  In the difference curve 56, the operator aligns the gauge 57L with the left end of the part desired to be measured, and aligns the gauge 57R with the right end. Then, the distance from the gauge 57L to the gauge 57R is read using the scale 58. Thereby, the thickness of the part where the measurement curve 55 deviates from the reference curve 54 can be measured quantitatively. In the screen 50, a portion having a relatively large difference value, that is, a large convex portion of the difference curve 56 corresponds to a portion in which the chest wall is abnormally thick. Therefore, by designating the convex portions with the gauges 57L and 57R, it is possible to designate a place where the difference value is large, that is, a place where thickening appears in the pleura, and the thickness can be measured by the scale 58.

  Further, since the scale 58 is linked to the amount of expansion / contraction of the measurement curve 55, quantitative measurement is possible even when the abnormal part is very small. That is, when the measurement curve 55 is dragged with the mouse 16 and extended in the left-right direction, the result display unit 11 f extends the difference curve 56 in conjunction with the extension of the measurement curve 55 and widens the interval between the scales 58. By increasing the interval between the scales 58, even a very small abnormal part can be quantitatively measured.

<Other embodiments>
In the above description, the association between the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55 is performed based on manual input by the operator, but may be automatically associated by the image diagnosis support apparatus 10. Hereinafter, the flow of processing in which the diagnostic imaging support apparatus 10 associates the reference curve 54 with the measurement curve 55 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the above process. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the association range used in the present embodiment.

  The following processing is subsequently executed after the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55 are generated in step S12 of FIG.

(Step S20)
A portion of the measurement curve 55 corresponding to a normal portion, or a portion other than a portion where quantitative analysis is desired, and a portion of the reference curve 54 corresponding to the normal portion, or a portion other than a portion where quantitative analysis is desired , It becomes easy to detect a part corresponding to a part suspected of being abnormal in the measurement curve 55. Therefore, a part of the reference curve 54 and a part of the measurement curve 55 are set as the association range.

  This association range will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, a reference curve 54 and a measurement curve 55 are displayed so that the left side is the lung field inner side and the right side is the lung field outer side. Pleural abnormalities occur in the lung field. That is, the vicinity of the outside of the lung field of the measurement curve 55 is considered to be a portion corresponding to a normal part.

  Therefore, in FIG. 7A, the right side of the center of gravity of the reference curve 54 and the right side of the center of gravity of the measurement curve 55 are set as the correspondence range.

  In FIG. 7A, the association range is set based on the center of gravity, but the innermost point between the measurement curve 55 and the reference curve 54 may be used as a reference, and the portion on the right side may be used as the association range. Alternatively, the outermost point between the measurement curve 55 and the reference curve 54 may be used as a reference, and the left side of the measurement curve 55 and the reference curve 54 may be used as the association range.

  In FIG. 7B, the operator inputs a density value (CT value) to be a boundary into the input field 71, and the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55 indicate a portion showing a density value larger than the input value. The correspondence range. For example, in FIG. 7B, since the plurality of straight lines 44 and 45 that are the basis for calculating the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55 each cross a bone region such as a rib, the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55 And the part corresponding to CT value of a bone appears as a convex part. Let this convex part be an association range.

(Step S21)
The associating unit 11e moves and / or expands / contracts one curve (for example, the reference curve 54) so that the sum of the squares of the differences between the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55 within the association range is minimized. Correlate (S21). The associating unit 11e stores the movement amount and / or the expansion / contraction amount in this process.

(Step S22)
Subsequently, the associating unit 11e is a range outside the associating range among the one curve (for example, the reference curve 54) moved and / or expanded and contracted in step S21, and the associating range is moved and / or expanded and contracted. The part included in the range dependent on the result (hereinafter referred to as “dependent range”) is moved and / or expanded / contracted according to the stored movement amount and / or expansion / contraction amount (S22). Thereafter, the process of step S15 is executed.

  In step S20, when the innermost point between the measurement curve 55 and the reference curve 54 is used as a reference and the right side portion is set as the correspondence range, the outermost point between the measurement curve 55 and the reference curve 54 is used as a reference. In the case where the left side portion is set as the association range, this step is not necessary.

  Subsequently, after associating the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55, display processing of the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55 in step S13 is executed. In this case, step S14 in FIG. 3 can be omitted. However, if the operator desires further alignment between the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55, step S14 may be executed.

  According to this embodiment, since the diagnostic imaging support apparatus 10 automatically associates the reference curve 54 with the measurement curve 55, it can be expected that the operation by the operator becomes simpler. Further, after associating the reference curve 54 with the measurement curve 55, displaying these curves on the screen 50 makes it easier to compare the two curves.

  In the above-described embodiment, the reference curve 54 is generated as a density value profile of one straight line 44. However, a plurality of straight lines are input to a portion that is clearly normal in the tomographic image 41, and the density values of the plurality of straight lines are obtained. The reference curve may be calculated based on the average value. Thereby, the measurement curve can be quantitatively analyzed in light of the reference curve in which the slight difference of the region of the subject is relativized.

  The reference curve 54 is generated in advance for each part of the subject based on a typical concentration value profile that appears in a normal state, stored in the data storage device 13, and a part for which quantitative analysis is desired. Depending on, the stored reference curve may be read out.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated based on the axial cross-sectional image which imaged the lung field area | region of the subject, the tomographic image is not restricted to an axial cross-sectional image. Furthermore, the part imaged in the tomographic image is not limited to the lung field region. For example, the present invention can also be applied to quantitative analysis of the thickness of a subject's stomach wall, intestinal wall, blood vessel wall, and the like.

  In FIG. 5, the graph display area 51 is displayed as a two-dimensional graph, but the graph display area 51 is not limited to a two-dimensional graph. For example, after inputting the straight line to each of a plurality of tomographic images and calculating the density value profile of each straight line, the x-axis is the position on the straight line, the y-axis is the density value, and the z-axis is the object of the tomographic image. A three-dimensional graph indicating the position in the body axis direction may be displayed in the graph display area 51.

  Further, the result display unit 11f displays the subtraction result between the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55 as the difference curve 56, but instead of displaying the difference curve 56, the numerical value of the inverse value width of the peak value of the difference curve 56 is displayed. It may be displayed. In this case, the part may be explicitly displayed so that the part corresponding to the part where the inverse width is measured in the measurement curve 55 can be seen.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image diagnosis support apparatus according to the present invention. An image diagnosis support program installed in the image diagnosis support apparatus 10. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of processing performed in the image diagnosis support apparatus 10. The schematic diagram which shows the example of a screen display. The schematic diagram which shows the example of a screen display changed from FIG. The flowchart for demonstrating the flow of the process with which an image diagnosis assistance apparatus matches the reference curve 54 and the measurement curve 55. FIG. The schematic diagram for demonstrating the matching range.

Explanation of symbols

10: diagnostic imaging support device, 11: CPU, 12: main memory: 13: data storage device, 14: display memory, 15: monitor, 16: mouse, 16a: controller, 17: keyboard, 18: network adapter, 19: Bus, 44: straight line input to normal part, 45: straight line input to part suspected of abnormality, 54: reference curve, 55: measurement curve, 56: difference curve, 57L, 57R: gauge, 58: scale

Claims (9)

On a tomographic image of the subject displayed on the screen of the image display device, a first straight line that traverses a site where quantitative analysis is desired in the tomographic image and a site that is compared on the tomographic image are crossed. Input means for receiving input of two straight lines of two straight lines ;
A density value calculation means for reading said first straight line density value and a density value on the second straight line, respectively,
A measurement curve that is a concentration value profile in which the read concentration values are plotted along the position on the first straight line is generated, and the measurement curve is represented by one axis indicating the position on the straight line, together with other axes is displayed on a coordinate system indicating the density values, along with the position on said second straight line, a reference curve the concentration value profile plotting the read density value, the coordinate Profile display means for displaying on the system;
Corresponding means for associating the position in the one axial direction of the measurement curve and the reference curve on the coordinate system;
A result display means for calculating a difference between the measurement curve and the reference curve and displaying the calculation result on the screen;
A diagnostic imaging support apparatus comprising: The part to be compared is a part that is clearly normal in the tomographic image of the subject.
The image diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 1 . The result display means, wherein said generating a difference curve obtained by plotting the difference between the measured curve and the reference curve along one axial position, said one axial position of the differential curve, the The difference curve is displayed on the coordinate system by associating the measurement curve and the position of the reference curve in the one axial direction, and further, the difference curve is displayed with a scale indicating the actual size. ,
The image diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image diagnosis support apparatus is an image diagnosis support apparatus. When the first straight line is input in a first direction from the center of the tomographic image to the outer edge of the tomographic image, the first straight line goes from the outer edge of the tomographic image to the center of the tomographic image. In the case where the second straight line is input in the second direction, the second straight line is input in the first direction, and the second straight line is input in the second direction . In the profile display means, the horizontal axis indicates the position on the straight line, and the direction from the left to the right of the horizontal axis coincides with the direction from the center of the tomographic image toward the outer edge of the tomographic image. So as to display the measurement curve and the reference curve,
The image diagnosis support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The association unit includes the measurement curve and the measurement curve so that the sum of squares of the difference between the density values of the measurement curve and the reference curve is minimized within an association range set by the operator using the density value. The measurement curve and the reference curve are associated with each other by expanding and / or moving at least one of the reference curves, and a portion outside the association range in the measurement curve or the reference curve that is expanded and / or moved. Stretch and / or move according to the amount stretched and / or moved,
The diagnostic imaging support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic imaging support apparatus is an image diagnostic support apparatus. The tomographic image is a tomographic image obtained by imaging a lung field region of the subject,
The profile display unit shows the horizontal axis showing the horizontal axis represents the outer central portion of the left side the subject right of the subject with indicating the position on the straight lines, the density value at the position on the straight line Displaying the measurement curve and the reference curve on a two-dimensional coordinate system defined by a vertical axis;
The association means is based on the centroid of each of the measurement curve and the reference curve, and the sum of the squares of the difference between the measurement curve and the reference curve on the right side of the centroid is minimized. The measurement curve and the reference curve are associated with each other by extending and / or moving at least one of the measurement curve and the reference curve, and a portion on the left side of the center of gravity of the measurement curve or the reference curve that is expanded and / or moved. Is expanded and / or moved in accordance with the amount of expansion and / or movement.
Alternatively, the correlating means is based on the leftmost point of each of the measurement curve and the reference curve, and the sum of the squares of the differences between the measurement curve and the reference curve on the right side of the leftmost point is the smallest. The measurement curve and the reference curve are associated with each other by extending and / or moving at least one of the measurement curve and the reference curve.
Alternatively, the association means uses the rightmost point of each of the measurement curve and the reference curve as a reference, and the sum of the squares of the differences between the measurement curve and the reference curve on the left side of the rightmost point is the smallest The measurement curve and the reference curve are associated with each other by extending and / or moving at least one of the measurement curve and the reference curve.
The diagnostic imaging support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic imaging support apparatus is an image diagnostic support apparatus. Only when the association means expands and / or moves the measurement curve, the result display means plots the difference value between the measurement curve and the reference curve along the position in the one axial direction. The difference curve generated in the above and the scale indicating the actual size given to the difference curve are stretched and / or moved according to the stretched and / or moved amount.
An image diagnosis support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The input means displays the first straight line and the second straight line using different colors, respectively.
The profile display means displays the measurement curve using the same color as the color of the first straight line, and displays the reference curve using a color different from the color of the measurement curve,
The result display means displays the calculation result using a color different from the measurement curve and the reference curve.
The image diagnosis support apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image diagnosis support apparatus is an image diagnosis support apparatus. Computer
On one tomographic image of the subject displayed on the screen of the image display device, a first straight line that traverses a region where quantitative analysis is desired in the tomographic image and a region that is compared on the tomographic image. Input means for receiving input of two straight lines of two straight lines;
Density value calculating means for reading the density value on the first straight line and the density value on the second straight line,
A measurement curve that is a concentration value profile in which the read concentration values are plotted along the position on the first straight line is generated, and the measurement curve is represented by one axis indicating the position on the straight line, A reference curve which is a density value profile in which the other density axis is displayed on the coordinate system indicating the density value and the read density value is plotted along the position on the second straight line. Profile display means for displaying on the system;
Corresponding means for associating the position in the one axial direction of the measurement curve and the reference curve on the coordinate system;
A program for calculating a difference between the measurement curve and the reference curve and functioning as result display means for displaying the calculation result on the screen .

Images