JP2009045121A - Medical image processing system, medical image processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to present an image to be interpreted and a case image in a form that is easy for an interpreter to compare.
A medical image processing system includes a feature amount information storage unit that stores a range that an image feature amount of an abnormal shadow can take, an image acquisition unit that acquires an abnormal shadow image including the abnormal shadow, and an image acquisition unit. The change image generation unit that generates a change image in which the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image is changed within the range stored in the feature amount information storage unit, and the change image generated by the change image generation unit An output unit.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical image processing system, a medical image processing method, and a program. In particular, the present invention relates to a medical image processing system and a medical image processing method for processing a medical image, and a program for the medical image processing system.

By detecting areas with characteristic density characteristics, obtaining feature quantities of size and circularity in the detected areas, and performing discriminant analysis using these feature quantities, primary detection of lacunar infarction shadow candidates is performed. The technique to perform is known (for example, refer patent document 1).
JP 2007-105207 A

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, even if a shadow candidate is specified, if the case database has only a past case image having a size completely different from the size of the shadow candidate, And the shadow candidate, it may not be possible to determine whether the shadow candidate has the same characteristics as the past encouraged image.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a medical image processing system includes a feature amount information storage unit that stores a possible range of image feature amounts in an abnormal shadow, and includes an abnormal shadow An image acquisition unit for acquiring an abnormal shadow image and a change image in which the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit is changed within the range stored in the feature amount information storage unit A change image generation unit that outputs the change image generated by the change image generation unit.

  The image processing apparatus further includes a disease input unit for inputting a disease, the feature amount information storage unit stores a possible range of the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow in association with the disease, and the change image generation unit is the abnormality acquired by the image acquisition unit You may produce | generate the change image which changed the image feature-value in the abnormal shadow which a shadow image contains within the range which the feature-value information storage part matched with the disease input by the disease input part.

  The feature amount information storage unit stores a range that at least one of the density of the abnormal shadow, the size of the abnormal shadow, the shape of the abnormal shadow, and the position of the abnormal shadow can be associated with the disease, and a change image generation unit Corresponds to the disease input by the disease input unit, at least one of the density of the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit, the size of the abnormal shadow, the shape of the abnormal shadow, and the position of the abnormal shadow In addition, a changed image that is changed within the range stored in the feature amount information storage unit may be generated.

  The feature amount information storage unit stores the range that the image feature amount of the abnormal shadow can take in correspondence with the disease and the degree of progression of the disease, and the output unit stores the change image generated by the change image generation unit. The image may be output in association with the degree of progress stored in the feature amount information storage unit in association with the range including the image feature amount used by the change image generation unit to generate the image.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medical image processing method, a feature amount information storage step for storing a range that an image feature amount in an abnormal shadow can take, and an image acquisition for acquiring an abnormal shadow image including the abnormal shadow And a change image generation step for generating a change image in which the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired in the image acquisition step is changed within the range stored in the feature amount information storage step, and the change And an output stage for outputting the change image generated in the image generation stage.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for a medical image processing apparatus, the medical image processing apparatus including a feature amount information storage unit that stores a range that an image feature amount of an abnormal shadow can take, and an abnormal shadow An image acquisition unit for acquiring an abnormal shadow image, and a change image in which an image feature amount in the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit is changed within a range stored in the feature amount information storage unit. The change image generation unit functions as an output unit that outputs the change image generated by the change image generation unit.

  The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be the invention.

  As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to present an image to be interpreted and a case image in a form that is easy for an interpreter to compare.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the scope of claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are included. It is not necessarily essential for the solution of the invention.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a usage environment of a medical image processing system 100 according to an embodiment. The medical image processing system 100 includes a medical information processing device 110, a diagnosis support information database 120, a plurality of image reader terminals 150a-d (hereinafter collectively referred to as image reader terminals 150), and a plurality of medical image imaging devices 170a-c. (Hereinafter collectively referred to as a medical image capturing apparatus 170). The diagnosis support information database 120 includes a medical information database 130, a case database 140, and a feature amount database 145.

  The radiogram interpreter terminal 150a and the medical image capturing device 170a are provided in the diagnosis site 102a, and the radiogram interpreter terminal 150a causes the radiogram interpreter 190a to interpret the image to be interpreted captured by the medical image capturing device 170a. The radiogram interpreter terminal 150b and the medical image capturing apparatus 170b are provided in the diagnosis site 102b, and cause the radiographer 190b to interpret the image to be interpreted captured by the medical image capturing apparatus 170b. The radiogram interpreter terminal 150c and the medical image capturing apparatus 170c are provided in the diagnosis site 102c, and cause the radiographer 190c to interpret the image to be interpreted captured by the medical image capturing apparatus 170c. As an example, the diagnostic site 102a, the diagnostic site 102b, and the diagnostic site 102c may be medical / medical institutions such as different hospitals.

  The medical information processing apparatus 110, the diagnostic support information database 120, and the radiogram interpreter terminal 150d are provided in a diagnostic site 102d different from the diagnostic sites 102a-c. The medical information processing apparatus 110 is connected to the medical image capturing apparatus 170 through the communication line 160, collects interpretation target images from the medical image capturing apparatus 170 and stores them in the case database 140. Then, the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 displays the radiogram interpretation target image stored in the case database 140. The diagnostic site 102d may be an organization that provides a remote interpretation service. Note that the radiogram interpreter terminals 150a-c can also acquire the radiogram interpretation target images stored in the case database 140 through the communication line 160 and cause the radiogram interpreters 190a-c to interpret the images.

  The medical information database 130 stores medical information that supports diagnosis in a recording medium that can be electronically recorded, such as a hard disk or a nonvolatile semiconductor memory. Medical information includes commentary data of a disease, points to be noted when reading an image including abnormal shadows, points to be described as findings, and representative case images. The case database 140 stores a plurality of case information in a recording medium that can be electronically recorded, such as a hard disk or a nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The case information includes medical records such as case images, findings, confirmed diagnosis results, and medical record data.

  The medical information processing apparatus 110 is connected to the diagnosis support information database 120. The medical information processing apparatus 110 can electronically read medical information stored in the medical information database 130 and case information stored in the case database 140. The medical information processing apparatus 110 is connected to the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 via a communication line 160, and medical information and case information read from the medical information database 130 and the case database 140 are transferred to the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 via the communication line 160. Provide electronically.

  The radiogram interpreter terminal 150 acquires the radiogram interpretation target image captured by the medical image imaging device 170 and presents it to the radiogram interpreter 190. At this time, the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 presents related medical information and case information acquired from the medical information processing apparatus 110 together with the image to be interpreted. Then, the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 receives input of findings from the radiogram interpreter 190 and transmits the input findings and image to be interpreted to the medical information processing apparatus 110 through the communication line 160. The medical information processing apparatus 110 stores the case data including the findings and the interpretation target image received from the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 in the case database 140 as new case information.

  The feature amount database 145 stores a range that image feature amounts such as the density and size of abnormal shadows in a medical image captured by the medical image capturing apparatus 170 can be associated with a disease. Then, the medical information processing apparatus 110 generates a change image in which the abnormal shadow included in the case image is changed in a range of density and size stored in the feature amount database 145 in association with the disease indicated by the case image. . Then, the medical information processing apparatus 110 transmits the change image and the interpretation target image to the radiogram interpreter terminal 150. The radiogram interpreter terminal 150 compares the change image received from the medical information processing apparatus 110 with the image to be interpreted and displays it.

  The medical imaging apparatus 170 may be an imaging apparatus that captures an image of a subject using electromagnetic waves including radiation, such as an X-ray CT apparatus, a tomosynthesis apparatus, and an MRI apparatus. Here, the medical image processing system 100 has been described as a system extending over a plurality of diagnostic sites 102, but the medical image processing system 100 may be a system closed within one diagnostic site 102. In this case, the diagnostic site 102 may be a different department within one medical institution. For example, the diagnostic site 102 may be a different department within a medical institution.

  As described above, when the medical image processing system 100 is applied to an actual system, the medical image processing system 100 functions as a remote interpretation agent system that acts as an interpretation agent for a hospital that has insufficient interpreters, or a second opinion for a diagnosis result in one hospital. It may function as a second opinion providing system that can be requested to other hospitals. Further, when the medical image processing system 100 is applied to an actual system, the medical information stored in the medical information database 130 and the case information stored in the case database 140 can be electronically provided to the radiogram interpreter terminal 150. In other words, it may function as an electronic medical book in which cases can be added dynamically as needed. The feature amount database 145 is an example of a feature amount information storage unit in the present invention, and the medical information database 130 and the case database 140 are examples of a case image storage unit in the present invention.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a block configuration of the medical information processing apparatus 110. The medical information processing apparatus 110 includes an image acquisition unit 200, a contrast image acquisition unit 210, a disease input unit 220, a similar image specification unit 230, a change image generation unit 240, a coincidence degree calculation unit 250, a similar change image specification unit 260, a progress degree. An input unit 270 and an output unit 290 are included. The operation of each component of the medical information processing apparatus 110 will be described below together with data stored in the diagnosis support information database 120.

  The feature amount database 145 stores a range that the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow can take. Specifically, the feature amount database 145 stores the range that the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow can take in association with the disease. The abnormal shadow may be an image of an affected part or an image of a part suspected of being an affected part in an image obtained by imaging a subject. The image obtained by imaging the subject is not limited to the image of the subject imaged by radiation, but includes images of the subject imaged by various methods including visible light and infrared rays.

  The image acquisition unit 200 acquires an abnormal shadow image including an abnormal shadow. Specifically, the image acquisition unit 200 may acquire a case image stored in the medical information database 130 or the case database 140 as an abnormal shadow image.

  The disease input unit 220 inputs a disease. For example, the disease input unit 220 may input a disease when the image interpreter 190 inputs a finding on the image to be interpreted from the image interpreter terminal 150, or a disease indicated by a case image similar to the image to be interpreted as described later. May be entered.

  Then, the change image generation unit 240 generates a change image in which the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit 200 is changed within the range stored in the feature amount database 145. The change image generation unit 240 stores the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit 200 in the feature amount database 145 in association with the disease input by the disease input unit 220. A change image changed within is generated. Then, the output unit 290 outputs the change image generated by the change image generation unit 240. Specifically, the output unit 290 transmits the change image generated by the change image generation unit 240 to the outside or records it on a recording medium.

  The feature amount database 145 stores a range that at least one of the density of the abnormal shadow, the size of the abnormal shadow, the shape of the abnormal shadow, and the position of the abnormal shadow can be associated with the disease. Then, the change image generation unit 240 inputs at least one of the density of the abnormal shadow, the size of the abnormal shadow, the shape of the abnormal shadow, and the position of the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit 200 as a disease input. A change image that is changed within the range stored in the feature amount database 145 in association with the disease input by the unit 220 is generated. Further, the feature amount database 145 stores the range that the image feature amount of the abnormal shadow can take in association with the disease and the degree of progression of the disease. Then, the output unit 290 associates the change image generated by the change image generation unit 240 with the range including the image feature amount used by the change image generation unit 240 to generate the change image. Output in correspondence with the stored progress.

  The change image generation unit 240 stores the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit 200 in the feature amount database 145 in association with the disease input by the disease input unit 220. A plurality of change images having different image feature amounts are generated. Then, the output unit 290 outputs at least one of the plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit 240 in association with the degree of progress.

  The contrast image acquisition unit 210 acquires a contrast image to be compared with the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit 200. Then, the coincidence degree calculation unit 250 calculates the degree of coincidence of image contents between the plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit 240 and the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit 210. Note that the degree of coincidence of image contents is the difference in pixel values between the pixels included in the abnormal shadow region in the change image and the pixels included in the abnormal shadow region in the contrast image, or the total amount of the pixel value differences. It may be.

  Then, the similar change image specifying unit 260 is a change in which the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit 210 matches the image content at a predetermined degree of matching or higher among the plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit 240. Identify the image. Then, the output unit 290 outputs the change image specified by the similar change image specification unit 260 and the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit 210 in association with the degree of progress. Note that the output unit 290 highlights and displays the change image having a higher degree of coincidence calculated by the coincidence degree calculation unit 250 with the output unit 290 in a state where the comparison image obtained by the comparison image acquisition unit 210 is displayed. May be.

  Specifically, the contrast image acquisition unit 210 acquires, as a contrast image, an image to be interpreted that should be interpreted by the image interpreter 190, which is captured by the medical image capturing apparatus 170. Then, the image acquisition unit 200 acquires, as an abnormal shadow image, a case image that should be referred to by the image interpreter when the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit 210 is interpreted.

  The medical information database 130 and the case database 140 store case images indicating the disease in association with the disease. Then, the image acquisition unit 200 includes an image feature amount included in the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit 210 among the case images stored in the medical information database 130 and the case database 140, and a predetermined degree of coincidence or more. A case image having the same image feature amount is acquired as an abnormal shadow image. Specifically, the similar image specifying unit 230 uses the medical information database 130 and the case database 140 to store case images having feature amounts that match with a degree of coincidence that is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. Is identified from the stored case images. The image acquisition unit 200 acquires the case image specified by the similar image specification unit 230. Then, the disease input unit 220 inputs the disease stored in the case image storage unit in association with the case image acquired as an abnormal shadow image by the image acquisition unit 200.

  As described above, the disease input unit 220 inputs from the image interpreter 190 a disease candidate that is a disease candidate indicated by the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit 210. The image acquisition unit 200 acquires the case images stored in the medical information database 130 and the case database 140 in association with the disease candidate input by the disease input unit 220 as an abnormal shadow image.

  In addition, the disease input unit 220 may input a plurality of disease candidates that are candidates for the disease indicated by the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit 210 from the radiogram interpreter. Then, the change image generation unit 240 may generate a plurality of change images for each of the plurality of abnormal shadow images acquired by the image acquisition unit 200. Then, the coincidence calculation unit 250 calculates the coincidence between the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit 210 and the change image. Then, the similar change image specifying unit 260, for each of a plurality of disease candidates input by the disease input unit 220, the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit 210 among the plurality of change images and the image content are determined in advance. You may identify the change image which coincides more than degree. Then, the output unit 290 displays, for each of a plurality of disease candidates input by the disease input unit 220, the change image specified by the similar change image specifying unit 260 and the contrast image acquired by the contrast image acquiring unit 210 together with the degree of progress. .

  The progress degree input unit 270 receives an input of the degree of progress of the disease from the image interpreter 190. For example, the progress level input unit 270 acquires the progress level input from the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 by the radiogram interpreter 190 from the radiogram interpreter terminal 150. Then, the change image generation unit 240 stores the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit 200 in the feature amount database 145 in association with the degree of progress received by the progress degree input unit 270. A plurality of change images having different image feature amounts are generated. Then, the output unit 290 displays the change image specified by the similar change image specification unit 260 and the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit 210 together with the progress degree received by the progress degree input unit 270.

  Note that the output unit 290 may continuously display a plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit 240 in terms of time. In addition, the output unit 290 displays a change image having a higher degree of coincidence calculated by the coincidence degree calculation unit 250 on the output unit 290 for a long time while the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit 210 is displayed. You may let them. In addition, the output unit 290 may display a plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit 240 in a form that can be browsed simultaneously by the radiogram interpreter. In addition, the output unit 290 causes the output unit 290 to highlight and display a change image having a higher degree of coincidence calculated by the coincidence degree calculation unit 250 in a state where the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit 210 is displayed. It's okay.

  In the above description, the operation of the medical information processing apparatus 110 has been described by taking as an example the case where the change image is generated by changing the case image. However, the medical information processing apparatus 110 changes the image to be interpreted. A change image may be generated. Specifically, the image acquisition unit 200 may acquire an image to be interpreted as an abnormal shadow image to be interpreted by the interpreter. The contrast image acquisition unit 210 may acquire, as a contrast image, a case image that should be referred to by the image interpreter when the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit 200 is read.

  When the medical information processing apparatus 110 is applied as an actual system as in the medical image processing system 100 described above, for example, a large number of case images having image feature amounts of various combinations of the size, density, and shape of abnormal shadows are stored in advance. Even if it is not prepared, the image interpretation target image and the case image may be provided to the image interpreter 190 in a form that can be easily compared.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the operation flow of the medical information processing apparatus 110. The contrast image acquisition unit 210 acquires the image to be interpreted by the image interpreter 190, which is imaged by the medical image capturing apparatus 170, in response to an instruction from the image interpreter 190 to the image interpreter terminal 150 (S302). Then, the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 receives an instruction from the radiogram interpreter 190 indicating whether to search for a case image similar to the radiogram interpretation target image or to select a disease by the radiogram interpreter 190. Instruct the device 110.

  When the medical information processing apparatus 110 receives an instruction to search for a similar case image (left of S304), the similar image specifying unit 230 is a case image similar to the image to be interpreted (hereinafter referred to as a similar case image). Are identified from the case images stored in the medical information database 130 or the case database 140, and the image acquisition unit 200 acquires the specified similar image (S310). Then, the disease input unit 220 inputs the disease indicated by the similar case image stored in the medical information database 130 or the case database 140 in association with the similar case image (S312).

  On the other hand, when the medical information processing apparatus 110 receives an instruction to search for a similar case image (right of S304), the disease input unit 220 inputs a disease based on the instruction of the image interpreter 190 (S320). Then, the image acquisition unit 200 acquires a case image associated with the input disease from the case images stored in the medical information database 130 and the case database 140 (S322).

  Then, the change image generation unit 240 acquires a range that can be taken by the image feature amount of the abnormal shadow image indicating the disease input by the disease input unit 220 from the feature amount database 145 (S330). Then, the change image generation unit 240 generates a plurality of change images in which the image feature amount is changed within the range acquired in S330 (S332). Then, the similar change image specifying unit 260 specifies a change image in which the degree of coincidence between the interpretation target image calculated by the coincidence degree calculating unit 250 and the change image is higher than a predetermined coincidence, and the output unit 290 The identified change image is transmitted to the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 (S334). Then, the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 displays an image to be interpreted together with the change image received from the medical information processing apparatus 110.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of data stored in the medical information database 130 in a table format. The medical information database 130 stores medical information data stored in a so-called electronic medical dictionary.

  Specifically, the medical information database 130 stores a disease ID for identifying a disease, an image ID for identifying a case image indicating the disease, and disease information data in association with each other. The case image stored in the medical information database 130 may be a representative case image of a disease. For example, the case image stored in the medical information database 130 may be a case image published in a so-called medical book, or may be a case image having characteristic features of a disease. The disease information data should be provided to the radiographer in relation to the disease, such as the characteristics of the disease, points to be noted at the time of interpretation, points to be described as findings, examples of findings, names of other diseases that are easily misdiagnosed, etc. Character information and image information may be included.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of data stored in the case database 140 in a table format. The case database 140 stores an image captured by the medical image capturing apparatus 170 as a case image together with the diagnosis result.

  Specifically, the case database 140 includes a user ID that uniquely identifies the image interpreter 190, an image ID that identifies a case image captured by the medical image capturing apparatus 170, a disease ID that identifies a disease, and diagnosis result data. Stored in association. The user ID may be information for identifying a user who can use a case image stored in the case database 140. Thus, since the case database 140 stores the case image in association with the user ID, the case images that should be stored by the image interpreter 190 can be accumulated for each image interpreter 190. Thereby, the case database 140 can function as a case database unique to the radiogram interpreter 190. In addition, the medical information processing apparatus 110 may use the user ID as permission information for limiting the radiogram interpreter 190 who can use the case image. Note that the case database 140 may store information for identifying the diagnostic site 102 instead of the user ID. Thereby, the case database 140 can function as, for example, a hospital-specific case database.

  The image ID may be information for identifying a case image stored in the case database 140. The image ID may be information for identifying a case image stored in the case database 140 and a case image stored in the medical information database 130. The disease ID may be a disease ID that identifies the disease indicated by the definitive diagnosis result for the diagnosis target indicated by the corresponding case image.

  The diagnosis result data includes data recorded as a medical record, for example, information related to a patient acquired in a medical process such as name, sex, age, diagnosis result, medication information, etc. Contains information called medical information. Specifically, the diagnosis result data may be medical chart data. Further, the case database 140 may store diagnosis result data indicating a diagnosis result given by the interpreter for each interpreter identified by the user ID.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of data stored in the feature quantity database 145 in a table format. The feature amount database 145 stores the disease ID, the degree of disease progression, the density of the abnormal shadow, the size of the abnormal shadow, the shape of the abnormal shadow, and the position of the abnormal shadow in association with each other. The degree of progression is an example of an index indicating the degree of progression of the disease, and may be a stage in cancer, for example. In addition, the degree of progression may be an index indicating the malignancy of cancer.

  The density may be a pixel value indicating the luminance of the abnormally shaded pixel in the image data. The density of the abnormal shadow may be an average pixel value of pixels included in the abnormal shadow in the image data. In addition, the density of the abnormal shadow may be an index indicating a spatial change pattern of the pixel value of the abnormal shadow. For example, the density of the abnormal shadow may be the size of the pixel value with respect to the distance from the center position of the abnormal shadow. The concentration of the abnormal shadow may be a value indicating a concentration ratio with respect to the average concentration of the organ having the disease.

  The size of the abnormal shadow may be the area of the abnormal shadow in the image data. In addition, the magnitude | size of an abnormal shadow may be a value which shows the ratio with respect to the magnitude | size of the organ which has a disease. Further, the shape of the abnormal shadow may be a value indicating the circularity of the outline of the abnormal shadow in the image data. In addition, the shape of the abnormal shadow may be the contour pattern itself of the abnormal shadow. A specific example of the contour pattern will be described with reference to FIG. Further, the position of the abnormal shadow may be a coordinate value indicating the position where the abnormal shadow appears. For example, the position of the abnormal shadow may be the coordinate itself in the image data. In this case, the origin of coordinates may be set at a specific position of the subject, for example. The subject may be an organ having a disease or the subject itself. The specific position may be, for example, the center position in the subject. In addition, the position of the abnormal shadow may be information for identifying an organ in which a disease may exist.

  Note that the feature value database 145 is represented by one index value as in the case where the feature value database 145 stores an average pixel value as the density of the abnormal shadow or an area as the size of the abnormal shadow. In the case of storing image feature amounts that can be stored, the feature amount database 145 may store the minimum value and the maximum value of the image feature amounts in association with each disease and the degree of progression. In addition, the feature amount database 145 may store a plurality of combinations of the density of the abnormal shadow, the size of the abnormal shadow, the shape of the abnormal shadow, and the position of the abnormal shadow for each disease and degree of progression. As described above, the feature database 145 stores the density of the abnormal shadow, the size of the abnormal shadow, the shape of the abnormal shadow, and the position of the abnormal shadow in association with the degree of progression of the disease. The change image having the image feature amount corresponding to the degree can be provided to the image interpreter 190 in comparison with the image to be interpreted.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a change image generated by the change image generation unit 240. In the medical information processing apparatus 110, when a disease is input by the disease input unit 220 and the progress is input by the progress input unit 270, the change image generation unit 240 is characterized in association with the input disease and the progress. Changed images 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 770, and 780 in which the image feature amount stored in the amount database 145 is read and the image feature amount is changed based on the read image feature amount value. Is generated.

  For example, the change image 710 and the change image 720 change the average value of the pixel values of the abnormal shadow 700 included in the case image to the minimum value and the maximum value of the average value of the pixel values stored in the feature amount database 145, respectively. An example of a change image generated by the change image generation unit 240 is shown. The abnormal shadow image 730 and the abnormal shadow image 740 are the abnormal images generated by the change image generation unit 240 by changing the area of the image 700 to the minimum area and the maximum area stored in the feature amount database 145, respectively. An example of a shadow image is shown. The change image 750 and the change image 760 are examples of abnormal shadow images generated by the change image generation unit 240 by changing the contour of the image 700 into two contour patterns stored in the feature amount database 145, respectively. Show. The abnormal shadow image 770 and the abnormal shadow image 780 indicate examples of abnormal shadow images generated by the change image generation unit 240 by positioning the image 700 at two positions stored in the feature amount database 145.

  In the example of this figure, for the sake of simplicity, an example of an abnormal shadow image generated by the change image generation unit 240 changing one of the image feature amounts of the image 700 is shown, but the change image generation unit 240 displays the image 700. Needless to say, it is possible to generate a changed image obtained by changing the image feature amount of the image feature amount by the combination stored in the feature amount database 145. As described above, since the medical information processing apparatus 110 can provide the image reader with a changed image in which the image feature amount is changed, the image interpreter is similar to the feature unique to the disease in the characteristic of the abnormal shadow of the image to be interpreted. It can be easily determined visually whether or not it is.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a contour pattern of an abnormal shadow stored in the feature amount database 145. The contour patterns 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, and 860 show contour patterns called so-called circular, lobed, polygonal, star-shaped, spicula, and saw-tooth shapes. As described with reference to FIG. 6, the feature amount database 145 includes information for specifying a contour pattern of an abnormal shadow that is characteristic of a disease among the contour patterns 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, and 860. The shape of the abnormal shadow is stored in association with the disease. For example, shape # 1 and shape # 2 in FIG. 6 may be information specifying the contour patterns 810 and 820, respectively. The contour patterns 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, and 860 are examples of abnormal shadow shapes stored in the feature amount database 145, and the feature amount database 145 may store other contour patterns. Needless to say.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a screen displayed on the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 by the output unit 290. The output unit 290 causes the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 to display a screen including an interpretation target image window 910, similar case image windows 920 and 951-954, a diagnostic report input window 930, and a reference diagnostic report display window 940.

  The output unit 290 displays the interpretation target image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit 210 in the interpretation target image window 910. And the output part 290 displays the case image which the similar image specific | specification part 230 specified among the case images stored in the case database 140 on the similar case image window 951-953. When the image interpreter 190 specifies a case image by clicking any one of the similar case image windows 951 to 954 with a mouse or the like, the image interpreter terminal 150 displays the specified case image as a similar case. It is displayed on the image window 920. At this time, the output unit 290 causes the similar case image window 954 to display the case images stored in the medical information database 130 in association with the disease indicated by the designated case image.

  Further, the output unit 290 acquires diagnosis result data such as findings of the designated case image from the case database 140 and causes the reference diagnosis report display window 940 to display the contents of the diagnosis result data. At this time, the output unit 290 displays the disease name included in the diagnosis result data on the reference diagnosis report display window 940 as a link to the disease information data stored in the medical information database 130. The link may be a hyperlink in a hypertext described by HTML, for example. When the image interpreter 190 clicks the link displayed on the image interpreter terminal 150 by a mouse operation or the like, the output unit 290 acquires the linked disease information data from the medical information database 130 and transmits it to the image interpreter terminal 150. And displayed on the radiogram interpreter terminal 150. The disease information data may be described in a markup language such as HTML or XML.

  The radiogram interpreter terminal 150 acquires data such as finding data input from the radiogram interpreter 190 to the diagnosis report input window 930 by the radiogram interpreter 190. Then, the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 transmits the acquired data to the medical information processing apparatus 110. The medical information processing apparatus 110 records the received data as diagnosis result data in the case database 140. Note that when the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 detects that a disease name is input as a finding in the diagnosis report input window 930, the image interpreter terminal 150 may transmit the disease indicated by the input disease name to the medical information processing apparatus 110. Then, the output unit 290 transmits the case image stored in the case database 140 or the medical information database 130 in association with the received disease to the radiogram interpreter terminal 150, and displays the similar case image window 920 or 951-954. It may be displayed on at least one of them. For example, the output unit 290 may display the case images stored in the medical information database 130 in association with the received disease in the similar case image window 954.

  Note that the output unit 290 may display a plurality of case images specified by the similar image specifying unit 230 in the similar case image windows 951-954. Then, the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 may automatically display the case image most similar to the image to be interpreted in the similar case image window 920 having the largest display area among the similar case image windows 920 and 951-954. .

  Note that the output unit 290 causes the similar case image window 920 to display a progress button 960 that inputs the progress, a moving image display button 970 that displays a change image as a moving image, and a thumbnail display button 980 that displays a plurality of change images as thumbnails. . When the progress button 960 is designated by a mouse operation or the like, the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 shifts to a screen for changing the case image displayed in the similar case image window 920 in accordance with the progress input. When the moving image display button 970 is designated by a mouse operation or the like, the output unit 290 continuously displays a plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit 240 based on the case image in the similar case image window 920. Let When the thumbnail display button 980 is designated by a mouse operation or the like, the output unit 290 displays a plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit 240 based on the case image in the similar case image window 920 as thumbnails.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a screen displayed on the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 by the output unit 290. The screen described in connection with this drawing includes an image interpretation window 910, similar case image windows 920 and 951-954, a diagnosis report input window 930, and a change image window 1021-1026. The output unit 290 displays the same display content as the display content described in FIG. 9 in the window denoted by the same reference numeral as in FIG. 9 in this figure, and thus the description is omitted except for the difference.

  The output unit 290 displays the case image designated by the image interpreter 190 in the similar case image window 920. At this time, the output unit 290 displays a progress input bar 1010 in the vicinity of the similar case image window 920. The radiogram interpreter terminal 150 can acquire an input value corresponding to the marker position in the progress input bar 1010 and displays it in the similar case image window 920 having the progress corresponding to the input value. At this time, the output unit 290 displays the degree of progression according to the input value in the similar case image window 920 as in “Stage IIB” in the figure.

  When the degree of progression is determined by a combination of a plurality of image feature amounts, the plurality of combinations of image feature amounts are associated with one degree of progression, and a plurality of images having a degree of progression corresponding to the input value are changed. Will exist. In such a case, the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 displays a change image having the highest degree of coincidence among the plurality of change images in the change image window 920 and displays other change images in the change image window 1021-1026. In this way, the radiogram interpreter terminal 150 displays a changed image with a higher degree of matching in a larger size. In this way, the medical information processing apparatus 110 highlights and displays a change image having a high degree of coincidence with the image to be interpreted.

  The medical information processing apparatus 110 transmits in advance a plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit 240 based on the case image specified by the image interpreter 190 to the image interpreter terminal 150 in association with the degree of progress. You can leave. The radiogram interpreter terminal 150 displays, in the change image window 1020, a change image of the degree of progress associated with the input value corresponding to the cursor position from among the plurality of change images received in advance from the medical information processing apparatus 110. You can do it.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a hardware configuration when the medical information processing apparatus 110 and the diagnosis support information database 120 are configured by an electronic information processing apparatus such as a computer. The medical information processing apparatus 110 and the diagnosis support information database 120 include a CPU peripheral unit, an input / output unit, and a legacy input / output unit. The CPU peripheral section includes a CPU 1505, a RAM 1520, a graphic controller 1575, and a display device 1580 that are connected to each other by a host controller 1582. The input / output unit includes a communication interface 1530, a hard disk drive 1540, and a CD-ROM drive 1560 that are connected to the host controller 1582 by the input / output controller 1584. The legacy input / output unit includes a ROM 1510, a flexible disk drive 1550, and an input / output chip 1570 connected to the input / output controller 1584.

  The host controller 1582 connects the RAM 1520, the CPU 1505 that accesses the RAM 1520 at a high transfer rate, and the graphic controller 1575. The CPU 1505 operates based on programs stored in the ROM 1510 and the RAM 1520 to control each unit. The graphic controller 1575 acquires image data generated by the CPU 1505 or the like on a frame buffer provided in the RAM 1520 and displays the image data on the display device 1580. Alternatively, the graphic controller 1575 may include a frame buffer that stores image data generated by the CPU 1505 or the like.

  The input / output controller 1584 connects the host controller 1582 to the hard disk drive 1540, the communication interface 1530, and the CD-ROM drive 1560, which are relatively high-speed input / output devices. The hard disk drive 1540 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1505. The communication interface 1530 is connected to the network communication device 1598 to transmit / receive programs or data. The CD-ROM drive 1560 reads a program or data from the CD-ROM 1595 and provides it to the hard disk drive 1540 and the communication interface 1530 via the RAM 1520.

  The input / output controller 1584 is connected to the ROM 1510, the flexible disk drive 1550, and the relatively low-speed input / output device of the input / output chip 1570. The ROM 1510 stores a boot program that is executed when the radiation imaging system is started up, a program that depends on the hardware of the radiation imaging system, and the like. The flexible disk drive 1550 reads a program or data from the flexible disk 1590 and provides it to the hard disk drive 1540 and the communication interface 1530 via the RAM 1520. The input / output chip 1570 connects various input / output devices via the flexible disk drive 1550 or a parallel port, serial port, keyboard port, mouse port, and the like.

  A program executed by the CPU 1505 is stored in a recording medium such as the flexible disk 1590, the CD-ROM 1595, or an IC card and provided by the user. The program stored in the recording medium may be compressed or uncompressed. The program is installed in the hard disk drive 1540 from the recording medium, read into the RAM 1520, and executed by the CPU 1505. The program executed by the CPU 1505 executes the medical information processing apparatus 110 using the image acquisition unit 200, the contrast image acquisition unit 210, the disease input unit 220, the similar image specification unit 230, and the change image described with reference to FIGS. The diagnosis support information database 120 is explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 by functioning as the generation unit 240, the coincidence calculation unit 250, the similarity change image specification unit 260, the progress input unit 270, and the output unit 290. The information database 130, the case database 140, and the feature amount database 145 function.

  The program shown above may be stored in an external storage medium. As the storage medium, in addition to the flexible disk 1590 and the CD-ROM 1595, an optical recording medium such as a DVD or PD, a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MD, a tape medium, a semiconductor memory such as an IC card, or the like can be used. In addition, a storage device such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet is used as a recording medium, and is provided to the medical information processing apparatus 110 and the diagnosis support information database 120 as a program via the network. May be.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows an example of the utilization environment of the medical image processing system 100 which concerns on one Embodiment. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a block configuration of a medical information processing apparatus 110. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation flow of the medical information processing apparatus 110. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the data which the medical information database 130 stores in a table format. It is a figure which shows an example of the data which the case database 140 stores in a table format. It is a figure which shows an example of the data which the feature-value database 145 has stored in the table format. It is a figure which shows an example of the change image which the change image generation part 240 produces | generates. It is a figure which shows an example of the outline pattern of the abnormal shadow which the feature-value database 145 has stored. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen which the output part 290 displays on the radiogram interpreter terminal 150. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen which the output part 290 displays on the radiogram interpreter terminal 150. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a medical information processing apparatus 110 and a diagnosis support information database 120. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Medical image processing system 102 Diagnosis site 110 Medical information processing apparatus 120 Diagnosis support information database 130 Medical information database 140 Case database 145 Feature-value database 150 Interpreter terminal 160 Communication line 170 Medical image imaging device 190 Interpreter 200 Image acquisition part 210 Contrast Image acquisition unit 220 Disease input unit 230 Similar image specifying unit 240 Changed image generating unit 250 Matching degree calculating unit 260 Similar change image specifying unit 270 Progress input unit 290 Output unit

Claims (19)

A feature amount information storage unit for storing a range that the image feature amount in an abnormal shadow can take;
An image acquisition unit for acquiring an abnormal shadow image including the abnormal shadow;
A change image generation unit that generates a change image in which an image feature amount in an abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit is changed within a range stored in the feature amount information storage unit;
A medical image processing system comprising: an output unit that outputs a change image generated by the change image generation unit. A disease input unit for inputting a disease;
The feature amount information storage unit stores a range that can be taken by an image feature amount in an abnormal shadow in association with a disease,
The change image generation unit stores the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit in the feature amount information storage unit in association with the disease input by the disease input unit. The medical image processing system according to claim 1, wherein a changed image changed within a certain range is generated. The feature amount information storage unit stores a range that at least one of the density of the abnormal shadow, the size of the abnormal shadow, the shape of the abnormal shadow, and the position of the abnormal shadow can be associated with the disease,
The change image generation unit includes at least one of the density of the abnormal shadow, the size of the abnormal shadow, the shape of the abnormal shadow, and the position of the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit, as the disease input unit. The medical image processing system according to claim 2, wherein a changed image that is changed within a range stored in the feature amount information storage unit in association with the disease input by is generated. The feature amount information storage unit stores the range that the image feature amount of the abnormal shadow can take in correspondence with the disease and the degree of progression of the disease,
The output unit associates the change image generated by the change image generation unit with a range including the image feature amount used by the change image generation unit to generate the change image, and the feature amount information storage unit The medical image processing system according to claim 3, wherein the medical image processing system outputs the data in association with the stored degree of progress. The change image generation unit stores the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit in the feature amount information storage unit in association with the disease input by the disease input unit. A plurality of change images having different image feature amounts from each other.
The medical image processing system according to claim 4, wherein the output unit outputs at least one of the plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit in association with the degree of progress. A contrast image acquisition unit that acquires a contrast image to be compared with the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit;
A similar change image specifying unit that specifies a change image that matches the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit with an image content equal to or higher than a predetermined matching degree among the plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit. In addition,
The medical image processing system according to claim 5, wherein the output unit outputs the change image specified by the similar change image specification unit and the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit in association with the degree of progress. The contrast image acquisition unit acquires an image to be interpreted as an image to be interpreted by the image interpreter as a contrast image,
The medical image processing system according to claim 6, wherein the image acquisition unit acquires, as an abnormal shadow image, a case image that should be referred to by an image interpreter when the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit is read. A case image storage unit for storing a case image indicating the disease in association with the disease;
The image acquisition unit is an image feature that matches the image feature amount of the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit among the case images stored in the case image storage unit at a predetermined matching degree or more. A case image having a quantity is acquired as an abnormal shadow image,
The medical image processing system according to claim 7, wherein the disease input unit inputs a disease stored in the case image storage unit in association with a case image acquired as an abnormal shadow image by the image acquisition unit. The disease input unit inputs from a radiogram interpreter a disease candidate that is a candidate for the disease indicated by the contrast image acquired by the contrast image acquisition unit,
The medical image processing system according to claim 8, wherein the image acquisition unit acquires a case image stored in the case image storage unit in association with a disease candidate input by the disease input unit as an abnormal shadow image. The disease input unit inputs from a radiogram interpreter a plurality of disease candidates that are candidates for the disease indicated by the contrast image acquired by the contrast image acquisition unit,
The change image generation unit generates a plurality of change images for each of a plurality of abnormal shadow images acquired by the image acquisition unit,
The similarity change image specifying unit, for each of a plurality of disease candidates input by the disease input unit, the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit among the plurality of change images and the degree of coincidence in which the image content is determined in advance The change image which matches with the above is identified,
The output unit displays, for each of a plurality of disease candidates input by the disease input unit, a change image specified by the similar change image specifying unit and a contrast image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit together with a progress degree. 9. The medical image processing system according to 9. It further includes a progress input unit that receives an input of the progress of the disease from the image interpreter,
The change image generation unit stores the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit in the feature amount information storage unit in association with the progress degree received by the progress degree input unit. A plurality of change images having different image feature amounts from each other.
The medical image according to claim 6, wherein the output unit displays the change image specified by the similar change image specifying unit and the contrast image acquired by the contrast image acquisition unit together with the progress degree received by the progress degree input unit. Processing system. The image acquisition unit acquires an image to be interpreted as an abnormal shadow image to be interpreted by the interpreter,
The medical image processing system according to claim 6, wherein the contrast image acquisition unit acquires a case image to be referred to by a radiogram interpreter as a contrast image when the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit is interpreted. A contrast image acquisition unit that acquires a contrast image to be compared with the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit;
A degree of coincidence calculating unit that calculates the degree of coincidence of image contents between the plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit and the comparison image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit;
The output unit emphasizes and displays a change image having a higher degree of coincidence calculated by the coincidence degree calculation unit with the output unit in a state where the comparison image obtained by the comparison image acquisition unit is displayed. 5. The medical image processing system according to 5. The medical image processing system according to claim 5, wherein the output unit continuously displays a plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit. A contrast image acquisition unit that acquires a contrast image to be compared with the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit;
A plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit, and a coincidence degree calculation unit that calculates the degree of coincidence of image contents between the contrast image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit,
15. The output unit displays a change image having a higher degree of coincidence calculated by the coincidence degree calculation unit on the output unit for a longer time in a state where the comparison image obtained by the comparison image acquisition unit is displayed. The medical image processing system described in 1. The medical image processing system according to claim 5, wherein the output unit displays a plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit in a form that can be viewed simultaneously by a radiographer. A contrast image acquisition unit that acquires a contrast image to be compared with the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit;
A plurality of change images generated by the change image generation unit, and a coincidence degree calculation unit that calculates the degree of coincidence of image contents between the contrast image acquired by the comparison image acquisition unit,
The output unit emphasizes and displays a change image having a higher degree of coincidence calculated by the coincidence degree calculation unit with the output unit in a state where the comparison image obtained by the comparison image acquisition unit is displayed. The medical image processing system according to 16. A feature amount information storage stage for storing a range that the image feature amount in an abnormal shadow can take;
An image acquisition stage for acquiring an abnormal shadow image including the abnormal shadow;
A change image generation step of generating a change image in which the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired in the image acquisition step is changed within the range stored in the feature amount information storage step;
A medical image processing method comprising: an output step of outputting the change image generated in the change image generation step. A program for a medical image processing apparatus, wherein the medical image processing apparatus is
A feature amount information storage unit for storing a range that the image feature amount in the abnormal shadow can take;
An image acquisition unit for acquiring an abnormal shadow image including the abnormal shadow;
A change image generation unit that generates a change image in which an image feature amount in an abnormal shadow included in the abnormal shadow image acquired by the image acquisition unit is changed within a range stored in the feature amount information storage unit;
A program that functions as an output unit that outputs a change image generated by the change image generation unit.

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