JP6466079B2 - X-ray computed tomography apparatus and scan plan setting support apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an X-ray computed tomography apparatus (X-ray CT) and a scan plan setting support apparatus.

  Due to recent advances in low-dose imaging technology, the main scan used for diagnosis is being reduced in dose. In the scan planning stage, a two-dimensional positioning image is taken in order to determine the scan position and range of the main scan, the reconstruction position and range, and the calculation of the optimum dose. As shown in FIG. 11, for example, the positioning image is obtained by continuously fixing the X-ray tube at a position of 0 degree, that is, a position in the front direction with respect to the subject and moving the top plate at a constant speed or intermittently. Photographing is performed by intermittently capturing images in synchronization with the movement of the plate. Positioning images may be collected from two directions of the side direction in addition to the front direction, and from an arbitrary direction, but the display direction cannot be changed after shooting because the display direction is fixed to the shooting direction.

  Further, the exposure amount required for taking the positioning image has not changed much from the past, although the exposure amount of the main scan has decreased in recent years. Further, in automatic exposure control (CT-AEC) used in CT scan, there is a problem that when the bed height changes, the calculated mA changes even for the same subject due to the influence of the enlargement ratio. The positioning image is handled only on an image basis and is not effectively used.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-23946

  The purpose is to improve the setting accuracy of the scan range and the like in the scan plan and the convenience of the setting operation.

An X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to this embodiment includes an X-ray tube apparatus, a high voltage generation unit that generates a tube voltage to be applied to the X-ray tube apparatus, an X-ray detector, and a subject. And a projection mechanism generated from the output of the X-ray detector, and a rotation mechanism for rotatably supporting the periphery of the subject. A storage unit; a reconstruction processing unit that reconstructs volume data based on the projection data; a three-dimensional image processing unit that generates a three-dimensional image and a cross-sectional image from the volume data; the three-dimensional image and the cross-sectional image A scan plan processing unit that constructs a scan plan screen including at least one of the following, a display unit that displays the scan plan screen, and a main scan according to the scan plan set on the scan plan screen The high voltage generator in order, the bed apparatus, comprising a control unit for controlling the rotation mechanism, the display unit displays the scan plan screen that contains one of the three-dimensional image and the sectional image In this case, the scan plan processing unit generates the scan plan screen including the other of the three-dimensional image and the cross-sectional image in response to an operation from the user, and the display unit receives the operation from the user. In response, the scan plan screen including the other of the three-dimensional image and the cross-sectional image is displayed .

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the entire CT examination according to this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a projection image generated from the helical scan data in step S15 of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a projection image generated from the non-helical scan data in step S15 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a projection image (positioning image) generated from an arbitrary direction from the helical scan data in step S15 of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a scan plan setting screen configured by the scan expert system of FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example in which the subject is arranged and operated at the center of the imaging field of view (FOV) using the axial image generated by the 3D image processing unit in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a lung field region extracted by the extraction processing unit in FIG. 1 as a 3D image. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a lung field region extracted by the extraction processing unit in FIG. 1 as a tomographic image. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a scan range automatically set on the projection image (positioning image) by the scan expert system in accordance with the lung field region extracted by the extraction processing unit of FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a projected image (positioning image) in one direction or two directions obtained by a conventional photographing method.

Hereinafter, an X-ray computed tomography apparatus and a scan plan setting support apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
An X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an X-ray tube apparatus, a high voltage generation unit that generates a tube voltage to be applied to the X-ray tube apparatus, an X-ray detector, and a subject. A rotating mechanism that rotatably supports the periphery of the subject, a storage unit that stores projection data generated from the output of the X-ray detector, A reconstruction processing unit that reconstructs volume data based on projection data, a three-dimensional image processing unit that generates a three-dimensional image and a cross-sectional image from the volume data, and a projection image generation that generates a projection image in an arbitrary direction from the projection data And a processing unit.

  A scan plan screen is constructed by the scan plan processing unit using these three-dimensional image, cross-sectional image, and projection image.

  In the present embodiment, setting accuracy and convenience of setting operation can be improved by performing a scan plan using volume data obtained by performing helical scan, volume scan, etc. before the main scan. . At this time, volume data may be collected with a plurality of energies using Dual Energy by kV switching. As a result, the amount of information obtained can be greatly increased compared to that of a projection image (positioning image) taken from one or two directions in the past, and sufficient information can be provided for the planning of the main scan. Can do. In addition to being able to accurately grasp the range and position of the target organ of the subject in the scan range, it is also possible to automatically set the scan range for the target organ to be scanned. By obtaining the three-dimensional information, the amount of absorption of each tissue of the subject can also be known, so that it is possible to accurately select an appropriate tube current (mA) that is necessary and not excessive.

  In the scan planning stage, the accuracy of setting (preset) of the scan position and range of the main scan is improved, which can improve the overall inspection workflow from positioning scan to main scan and image interpretation, and also increase the inspection throughput. become.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to the present embodiment. The X-ray computed tomography apparatus includes a rotation / rotation (ROTATE / ROTATE) type in which the X-ray tube apparatus 101 and the X-ray detector 103 are rotated as one body, and a large number of detection elements in a ring shape. There are various types such as a fixed / rotation (STATIONARY / ROTATE) type in which only the X-ray tube apparatus 101 rotates around the subject, and any type is applicable. Here, the rotation / rotation type that currently occupies the mainstream will be described. In addition, to reconstruct one slice of tomographic image data, projection data for about 360 ° around the periphery of the subject is required, and projection data for 180 ° + view angle is also required in the half scan method. . The present invention can be applied to any reconstruction method. In addition, the mechanism for converting incident X-rays into electric charges is based on an indirect conversion type in which X-rays are converted into light by a phosphor such as a scintillator and the light is further converted into electric charges by a photoelectric conversion element such as a photodiode. The generation of electron-hole pairs in semiconductors and their transfer to the electrode, that is, the direct conversion type utilizing a photoconductive phenomenon, is the mainstream. Any of these methods may be employed as the X-ray detection element, but here, the former indirect conversion type will be described. In recent years, the so-called multi-tube X-ray computed tomography apparatus in which a plurality of pairs of an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector are mounted on a rotating ring has been commercialized, and the development of peripheral technologies has progressed. Yes. The present invention can be applied to both a conventional single-tube X-ray computed tomography apparatus and a multi-tube X-ray computed tomography apparatus. Here, a single tube type will be described.

  The X-ray computed tomography apparatus of this embodiment has a gantry 100. The gantry 100 has an annular rotating frame 102. The rotating frame 102 constitutes a rotating mechanism together with the gantry driving unit 107. The rotating frame 102 is driven by the gantry driving unit 107 and rotates around the rotation axis RA. An X-ray tube device 101 and an X-ray detector 103 are mounted on the rotating frame 102 so as to face each other. During scanning, a subject placed on the top plate of the bed apparatus 111 is inserted between the X-ray tube apparatus 101 and the X-ray detector 103. The top plate is moved back and forth along the longitudinal direction by a drive unit (not shown) provided in the bed apparatus 111.

  The X-ray tube apparatus 101 receives an application of a tube voltage and a filament current from the high voltage generator 109 via the slip ring 108 and generates X-rays. The X-ray detector 103 includes a plurality of X-ray detection elements that detect X-rays that have passed through the subject and output electrical signals that reflect the dose of incident X-rays. The plurality of X-ray detection elements are arranged in a two-dimensional form of, for example, 320 columns × 912 channels.

  The data collection circuit 104 collects the signal output from the X-ray detector 103 and converts it into a digital signal (referred to as pure raw data). The data collection circuit 104 is connected to a preprocessing device 106 via a non-contact data transmission device 105. The pre-processing device 106 performs processing such as sensitivity correction and logarithmic conversion on the pure raw data to generate projection data. The projection data is stored in the storage device 112. The scan control unit 110 controls each operation of the gantry driving unit 107, the high voltage generation device 109, and the bed device 111 in order to execute a scan according to scan plan information described later.

  The image reconstruction unit 117 is provided for reconstructing image data with relatively low noise based on projection data collected by scanning with low-dose X-rays that is comparable to the conventional two-dimensional positioning image capturing. . As the reconstruction method by the image reconstruction unit 117, an arbitrary method having a relatively high applicability for noise reduction is used. For example, an image reconstruction method using the successive approximation method (sequential approximation method applied image reconstruction method) is used. Here, the image reconstruction unit 117 is described below as reconstructing volume data by the successive approximation method applied image reconstruction method, but is not limited to the successive approximation method applied image reconstruction method as described above. .

  The image reconstruction unit 117 reconstructs image data, here volume data, based on the projection data stored in the storage device 112 by an algorithm based on the successive approximation applied reconstruction method. Volume data is stored in the storage device 112. The successive approximation applied reconstruction process is used to reconstruct the positioning image (tomographic image data, volume data) used for the scan plan before the main scan, and also based on the projection data collected by the main scan (tomographic image data). , Volume data) is selectively applied to the reconstruction processing of the reconstruction processing unit 118 described later.

  The successive approximation applied reconstruction method is an application of the successive approximation method. As is well known, the successive approximation method is a method of reconstructing an image while repeating the correction by comparing the difference between the actually measured value and the calculated value for the projection data. The successive approximation applied reconstruction method is a method in which processing for reducing noise on projection data and processing for reducing noise in image data are added in an image reconstruction cycle of the successive approximation method. The algorithm of the successive approximation applied reconstruction method reduces noise by using a statistical noise model and a scanner model for the collected projection data. Furthermore, using an anatomical model, in the image reconstruction domain, identify which is noise and which is true projection data, extract only the noise component, and repeat this work to remove and reduce noise with high accuracy. To do. The successive approximation applied reconstruction method is a reconstruction method that achieves both low-dose imaging and low noise high image quality.

  The reconstruction processing unit 118 is different from the successive approximation applied image reconstruction method in the image reconstruction unit 117 based on projection data within a view angle range of 360 ° or 180 ° + fan angle, for example, the Feldkamp method, cone Volume data is reconstructed by the beam reconstruction method. The Feldkamp method is a reconstruction method when the projection ray intersects the reconstruction surface like a cone beam, and it is treated as a fan projection beam when convolved on the assumption that the cone angle is small. Back projection is an approximate image reconstruction method that processes along a ray during scanning. The cone beam reconstruction method is a reconstruction method in which projection data is corrected according to the angle of the ray with respect to the reconstruction surface, as a method of suppressing the cone angle error more than the Feldkamp method. Volume data is stored in the storage device 112.

  In order to reconstruct volume data from the projection data collected in the positioning scan, for example, the successive approximation applied reconstruction method having high applicability to noise reduction is applied, while the volume data is reconstructed from the projection data collected in the main scan. The successive approximation applied reconstruction method, the Feldkamp method, and the cone beam reconstruction method are arbitrarily selected.

  The display device 116 is provided mainly for displaying an image generated from the volume data and for displaying a scan plan screen constructed by the scan expert system 120. The input device 115 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like for inputting an operator's instruction.

  The three-dimensional image processing unit 121 has a function of generating three-dimensional image data from volume data stored in the storage device 112 by volume rendering processing, and axial / sagittal / coronal or arbitrary from volume data by cross-section conversion processing (MPR processing). It has a function of generating cross-sectional image data relating to the oblique cross-section of each. The projection image generation processing unit 122 generates projection image data as a positioning image from the projection data stored in the storage device 112. For example, when an arbitrary view angle such as 0 ° or 90 ° is specified on the scan plan screen, the projection data collected when the X-ray tube apparatus 101 is positioned at the view angle under the control of the scan expert system 120. Read from the storage device 112. The projection image generation processing unit 122 generates the projection image, that is, the conventional positioning image data by arranging the read projection data of the same view angle according to the respective top plate positions and combining them into one sheet. To do.

  The part region extraction processing unit 123 extracts an organ region from the volume data stored in the storage device 112. For example, the part region extraction processing unit 123 receives an inspection target organ code included in the inspection request information from the scan expert system 120, and extracts the organ region from the volume data according to a threshold value applied to the inspection target organ. The extracted organ region information is supplied to the scan expert system 120 and displayed superimposed on the three-dimensional image, cross-sectional image, and positioning image on the scan plan screen, and the initial scan position and range, reconstruction position and range are displayed. Used for setting. It is also optional to extract an organ region using a three-dimensional image, a cross-sectional image, and a positioning image as a threshold processing target.

  The scan expert system 120 selects a plurality of scan plan candidates suitable for the examination purpose, the examination target organ, the age and sex of the subject, etc. included in the examination request information in order to assist the user in setting the scan plan. Then, the scan plan screen is constructed together with the contents of the inspection request with the list of scan plan candidates. The scan plan screen further includes a three-dimensional image, a cross-sectional image, and a positioning image. The three-dimensional image, the cross-sectional image, and the positioning image are overlaid with outlines that represent the extracted organ regions, and auxiliary lines that represent the scan position and range, and the reconstruction position and range. The auxiliary line representing the scan position and range and the reconstruction position and range is initially set to a size that encompasses the extracted organ region, but can be arbitrarily changed according to the user's operation such as dragging the input device 115. The As a result, a three-dimensional scan plan that has been impossible in the past can be implemented. In addition, the scan expert system 120 can determine the tube current (mA) in the scan plan candidate from the three-dimensional image, the cross-sectional image, the positioning image, etc. with high accuracy, the body thickness of the subject, the size of the organ to be examined Calculate the recommended value accordingly. The recommended value of the tube current (mA) can also be arbitrarily changed according to the operation of the input device 115 by the user. In addition, tube voltage, slice thickness, reconstruction function, etc. are specified on the scan plan screen. The scan expert system 120 generates scan plan information according to the confirmed scan plan. The scan plan information is sent to the scan control unit 110, and the main scan is executed according to the scan plan information under the control of the scan control unit 110.

  FIG. 2 shows a processing procedure of the entire CT examination from the low-dose positioning scan in the scan planning stage according to the present embodiment to the final image display through the main scan. In the scan planning stage, first, the scanning control unit 110 controls a relatively wide area such as the entire chest, abdomen, and the entire upper body of the subject at a lower dose than the main scan by the helical scan method or the non-helical scan method. Is executed. In the case of the non-helical scan method, each time projection data for one round is collected, the top plate moves the distance corresponding to the cone spread angle, and the projection data for one round is collected at that position. Is repeated. Projection data for 360 ° is collected by the positioning scan (S11). Volume data is reconstructed by the image reconstruction unit 117 based on the projection data collected by this positioning scan (S12). Volume data is stored in the storage device 112.

  The volume data is subjected to volume rendering processing by the three-dimensional image processing unit 121. Three-dimensional image data is generated by the volume rendering process (S13). In the volume rendering process, the transparency is arbitrarily adjusted, and the organ region of the examination target organ is visualized. The volume data is subjected to a cross-section conversion process by the three-dimensional image processing unit 121. Thereby, cross-sectional image data relating to the axial / sagittal / coronal or arbitrary oblique cross-section is generated (S14). The cross-sectional position can be changed by moving a cross-sectional line superimposed on the positioning image displayed on the scan plan screen on the positioning image.

  Of the projection data for the entire circumference collected by the positioning scan, the projection data collected by the X-ray tube apparatus 101 at 0 °, 90 °, or an angle arbitrarily designated via the input device 115 is stored in the storage device 112. To the projection image generation processing unit 122. The read projection data is arranged according to the top plate position (position in the body axis direction) and synthesized into one sheet. Thereby, data of a projection image viewed from one direction is generated (S15). FIG. 3 shows the composition of the positioning image (projected image) when the positioning scan is performed by the helical scan, and FIG. 4 shows the composition of the positioning image when the positioning scan is performed by the non-helical scan. ing. In the present embodiment, projection data for the entire circumference is collected by scanning, so that a positioning image can be generated in an arbitrary direction as shown in FIG.

  The region of the examination target organ is extracted from the volume data stored in the storage device 112 by the threshold value processing by the region region extraction processing unit 123 (S16). The region extraction of the examination target organ can be performed on the three-dimensional image, the cross-sectional image, and the positioning image.

  FIG. 6 shows a scan plan support screen constructed by the scan expert system 120. On the scan plan support screen, scan conditions in the scan plan are indicated by numerical values. Scan start time, pause time, scan start position, scan end position, scan mode, number of scans, tube voltage (kV), tube current (mA), scan range (C-FOV), reconstruction range (D-FOV), Recommended values such as scan speed (total time), imaging slice thickness, movement range, and post-scan movement amount are individually expressed as numerical values, and can be arbitrarily changed by the user. Further, a positioning image, in this example, a positioning image in the front direction is displayed on the scan plan support screen (S17). By selectively pressing three types of “positioning image direction selection buttons” and inputting an arbitrary angle, the display can be switched to a positioning image viewed from another direction.

  A scanning range auxiliary line is superimposed on the positioning image. Of course, the range indicated by the scan range auxiliary line coincides with the scan range (C-FOV) represented by a numerical value. When one is corrected, the other is automatically corrected in conjunction. Note that the reconstruction range is often set to the same range as the scan range, so the scan range auxiliary line also serves as the reconstruction range auxiliary line that defines the reconstruction range, but the scan range auxiliary line and the reconstruction range You may make it display an auxiliary line separately.

  An axial sectional image at the scan start position and an axial sectional image at the scan end position are initially displayed. It is also possible to observe with MPR display using volume data. The position of the cross-sectional image can be arbitrarily changed by moving the cross-sectional line. As shown in FIG. 7, an auxiliary line indicating a reconstruction range (C-FOV) is superimposed on the cross-sectional image. An auxiliary line indicating the reconstruction range (C-FOV) can be moved to the center of the subject. It is also possible to place the heart in the center of the FOV for cardiac examinations.

  “Cross-section image display button” and “3D image display button” are prepared. When the “cross-section image display button” is pressed, a cross-section image is displayed as shown in FIG. 6, and when the “3D image display button” is pressed, A three-dimensional image shown in the example of the lung field is displayed in FIG. By operating the “viewpoint movement button”, the three-dimensional image can be arbitrarily rotated. When the “extracted organ display button” is pressed, the extracted organ regions are overlaid in color on the cross-sectional image as shown in FIG. The extracted organ region is superimposed on the positioning image in addition to the cross-sectional image, and is also superimposed on the three-dimensional image when the three-dimensional image is displayed. Furthermore, a “scan range automatic setting button” is prepared, and the scan range is automatically set so as to include the region of the organ to be examined extracted by the region region extraction unit 123 as illustrated in FIG. Is set.

  The scan range is automatically set for the organ region extracted in this way, and the scan range auxiliary line is operated as necessary while confirming the result on the cross-sectional image, positioning image, and three-dimensional image, and finally The size and position of the scan range can be determined with high accuracy (S18). Further, the scan expert system 120 can accurately identify the thickness of the target organ and the direction of the subject and the thickness change along the body axis from the three-dimensional image, the cross-sectional image, and the positioning image, so that the tube current (mA) can be identified. The optimum value and its modulation direction can be determined (S19).

  When the scan plan is confirmed, the scan expert system 120 generates scan plan information according to the confirmed scan plan, and the main scan is executed under the control of the scan control unit 110 according to the scan plan information (S20).

  Based on the projection data collected by the main scan, volume data is reconstructed by, for example, cone beam reconstruction, and a three-dimensional image is generated by the three-dimensional image processing unit 121 and displayed on the display device 116 (S21).

  Conventionally, an X-ray tube is not rotated, but X-rays are usually emitted while being fixed in the 0 ° direction, and at the same time, a positioning image for determining a scanning range is taken by moving the bed in the Z direction. In this embodiment, the projection data in the 360 ° direction is collected while rotating the X-ray tube in the same manner as in the normal scan, and a three-dimensional image is generated using the obtained projection data in the entire circumferential direction. The three-dimensional structure can be confirmed, a tomographic image can be generated at an arbitrary position and direction, the direction of the positioning image (projection image) can be freely changed, and the volume data of CT values can be obtained, so the inspection object Extract organ regions such as by threshold processing, or identify organ regions by performing organ segmentation by matching with standard anatomical models. The scan range can be automatically set so as to cover the organ area, and the scan range and reconstruction range can be confirmed on the tomographic image. It becomes possible to place the center, they much information, with the support, setting accuracy, such as the scan range in the scan plan, it is possible to improve the convenience of the setting operation.

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

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Gantry, 101 ... X-ray tube, 102 ... Rotating frame, 103 ... X-ray detector, 104 ... Data acquisition circuit, 105 ... Non-contact data transmission apparatus, 106 ... Pre-processing apparatus, 107 ... Base drive part, 108 ... Slip ring, 109 ... High voltage generator, 110 ... Host controller, 112 ... Storage device, 114 ... Reconstruction device, 115 ... Input device, 116 ... Display device, 117 ... Image reconstruction unit, 118 ... Reconstruction processing unit, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 ... Scan expert system, 121 ... Three-dimensional image process part, 122 ... Projection image generation process part, 123 ... Part area | region extraction process part.

Claims (11)

An X-ray tube device;
A high voltage generator for generating a tube voltage to be applied to the X-ray tube device;
An X-ray detector;
A bed apparatus for placing a subject;
A rotation mechanism that rotatably supports the X-ray tube apparatus and the X-ray detector around the subject;
A storage unit for storing projection data generated from the output of the X-ray detector;
A reconstruction processing unit for reconstructing volume data based on the projection data;
A three-dimensional image processing unit for generating a three-dimensional image and a cross-sectional image from the volume data;
A scan plan processing unit for constructing a scan plan screen including at least one of the three-dimensional image and the cross-sectional image;
A display unit for displaying the scan plan screen;
A control unit for controlling the high voltage generation unit, the bed apparatus, and the rotation mechanism to execute a main scan according to a scan plan set on the scan plan screen;
Equipped with,
In the case where the display unit displays the scan plan screen including one of the three-dimensional image and the cross-sectional image, the scan plan processing unit responds to an operation from a user, and the three-dimensional image and the cross-section Generating the scan plan screen including the other of the images;
The display unit displays the scan plan screen including the other of the three-dimensional image and the cross-sectional image in response to an operation from the user;
X-ray computer tomography apparatus according to claim. A projection image generation processing unit for generating a projection image in an arbitrary direction from the projection data;
The scan plan processing unit constructs the scan plan screen further including the projection image;
The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 1. X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 1, wherein further comprising an extraction unit for extracting an organ region from the volume data. The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the scan plan processing unit sets a scan range so as to surround the extracted organ region. 5. The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the scan planning processing unit sets a tube voltage and a tube current based on the extracted organ region.   The X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the scan plan processing unit sets a tube voltage and a tube current based on body type information of the subject. The reconstruction processing unit, X-rays computer of any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that reconstructing the volume data by iterative reconstruction, or other reconstruction method from the projection data Tomography equipment. Any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising another reconstruction processing unit for reconstructing the volume data by different image reconstruction method and image reconstruction method according to the reconstruction processing unit from said projection data An X-ray computed tomography apparatus according to claim 1. The scan planning processing section, X-rays computed tomography as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that setting the scan range of the main scan according to the range specified for the 3-dimensional image Shooting device. A storage unit for storing projection data collected by an X-ray computed tomography apparatus and volume data reconstructed based on the projection data;
A three-dimensional image processing unit for generating a three-dimensional image and a cross-sectional image from the volume data;
A scan plan processing unit for constructing a scan plan screen including at least one of the three-dimensional image and the cross-sectional image;
A display unit for displaying the scan plan screen;
Equipped with,
In the case where the display unit displays the scan plan screen including one of the three-dimensional image and the cross-sectional image, the scan plan processing unit responds to an operation from a user, and the three-dimensional image and the cross-section Generating the scan plan screen including the other of the images;
The display unit displays the scan plan screen including the other of the three-dimensional image and the cross-sectional image in response to an operation from the user;
Scan plan setting support apparatus according to claim. A projection image generation processing unit for generating a projection image in an arbitrary direction from the projection data;
The scan plan processing unit constructs the scan plan screen further including the projection image;
The scan plan setting support apparatus according to claim 10 .