JP3547248B2 - Breast image display - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a breast image display device that arranges a pair of left and right mammographic images so as to correspond to each other and simultaneously displays the mammographic images.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In various fields, a radiation image of a subject recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet or a film is read to obtain image data, and after appropriate image processing is performed on the image data, the image is reproduced by a display device in various fields. Is being done. In particular, in recent years, digital radiography technology called computed radiography by combination with a computer has been developed, and various digital radiography has been clinically applied.
[0003]
This digital radiography is fundamentally different from conventional analog radiography in that image data can be quantitatively analyzed. In particular, for medical diagnosis of the human body, a technique called computer-aided image diagnosis or CADM (Computer Aided Diagnosis of Medical Image) for the purpose of more actively utilizing the features of digital radiography is proposed. Have been. This computer-assisted image diagnosis and the like assists diagnosis through image interpretation at a medical site.
[0004]
By the way, regarding a radiographic image of the breast photographed in a screening for breast cancer or the like, a reader has conventionally made a comparative diagnosis by arranging left and right breast image films. In view of the fact that it would be advantageous to display the taken radiographic image in an arrangement such that the left and right breasts can be compared on a screen of a CRT or the like for diagnosis, such a method has already been proposed by the present applicant. And Japanese Patent Application No. 7-316679. This Japanese Patent Application No. 7-316679 is an application related to the computer-aided image diagnostic apparatus, and discloses a method of displaying left and right breast images back to back on a screen.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the left and right breasts are separately photographed, and the positions of the breasts on the respective photographed images are slightly shifted in the vertical direction on the respective image plates such as the stimulable phosphor sheets and films. . Therefore, in the method of simply arranging the right and left images back to back as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-316679, a vertical displacement occurs in the left and right breast regions on the display screen. Naturally, when comparing the images of the left and right breasts in diagnosis, it is desirable that the left and right breasts are located symmetrically to each other.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a breast image display device that can improve diagnostic efficiency by displaying a pair of left and right breast photographed images with left and right breast regions aligned symmetrically. It is intended for that purpose.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The breast image display device of the present invention is a breast image display device that simultaneously displays a pair of left and right mammography images on a display unit and simultaneously displays the images.
From the respective image data carrying the pair of left and right mammography images, position detection means for detecting the center position of the breast region end on one side of the image among the respective breast regions of the pair of images,
Based on the information indicating the central position detected by the position detecting means, the display means is configured to face the pair of left and right mammographic images to the sides where the respective breast region ends are overlapped, and align the respective central positions. And image display control means for displaying the image.
[0008]
That is, in the present invention, the breast regions of the pair of left and right breast images are arranged symmetrically and displayed on the display means, thereby improving the diagnosis efficiency.
[0009]
The mammographic image is taken on an image plate that is a recording medium such as a stimulable phosphor sheet or a film.When mammography is performed, the breast region always overlaps one side of these image plates. The breast region always overlaps one side of the mammographic image. The end of the breast region refers to a portion of the breast region that overlaps one side of the image, that is, a portion that covers one side of the image. Further, the mammographic image may be either a vertical image or a horizontal (lateral) image.
[0010]
The position detecting means is a breast area detecting means for detecting each breast area of the pair of images from respective image data carrying the pair of left and right mammography images, and an image among the detected breast areas. And a central position detecting means for detecting the central position of the end of the breast region on one side.
[0011]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention detects the center position of the end of the breast region on the pair of left and right breast images, and displays the center positions of the left and right breast images together with the sides of the breast regions facing each other and facing each other. In addition, the breast regions of the left and right breast images can be symmetrically arranged and displayed on the display means, and the efficiency of comparative diagnosis of the left and right breasts can be improved.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the breast image display device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image diagnostic apparatus including a breast image display device of the present invention.
[0014]
The illustrated image diagnostic apparatus stores storage means 10 such as a hard disk for storing image data S (S ₁ , S _r ) representing radiation images of left and right mammography images, and image data S stored in the storage means 10. A breast image display device 15 for displaying an image based on the input image data S is provided.
[0015]
The breast image display device 15 detects a breast region in the image, and detects a center position of an end of the breast region on one side of the image among the breast regions detected by the breast region detection unit 20. The central position detecting means 30 aligns the left and right breast images with each other such that the edges of the respective breast areas face each other, and aligns the center positions of the left and right breast areas detected by the central position detecting means 30 with each other, thereby obtaining a CRT. And the like, and an image display control means 40 for displaying a pair of left and right mammography images aligned with the display means 45.
[0016]
The breast area detecting means 20 and the central position detecting means 30 constitute a position detecting means 35.
[0017]
Next, the operation of the image diagnostic apparatus will be described.
[0018]
First, the image data S of the breast image stored in the storage unit 10 is input to the breast region detection unit 20, and the breast region on the image is detected. Various methods can be considered for detecting the breast region. Here, a method using a density histogram will be described as an example. First, a density histogram is created for the input image data S. The histogram has a specific pattern for each imaging region and imaging method. For example, in the case of a breast image, a graph as shown in FIG. 2A is obtained. In the histogram, a portion A having the highest density corresponds to a blank portion, that is, a portion outside the breast region, and a portion B corresponds to a skin fat portion and a mammary gland portion. Then, next, the threshold value T is provided at the boundary between the portion A and the portion B, and the image data S is binarized. For example, in FIG. 2A, the left breast area part B of the threshold T is “0”, and the right breast area outside the breast area A is “1”, and is binarized. Due to the binarization, only the breast region becomes “0”, and the breast region 6 can be detected as shown in the binarized image 5 shown in FIG. 2B obtained by the binarization. .
[0019]
Next, based on the binarized image data S 'as shown in FIG. 2B by the center position detecting means 30, as shown in FIG. ₍₅ l, _{5 r)} in the breast area end _{d (d} l, _{d r)} of the middle point _{P (P} l, _{P r)} obtained. The breast area end _{d (d} l, _{d r),} the left and right of the binary image _{5 (5} l, _{5 r)} sides is under the breast region of each side of _{7 (7} l, _{7 r)} on a breast region, determine the center point in the vertical direction of the breast region on the edge _{7 (7} l, _{7 r)} midpoint _{P (P} l, _{P r)} as. Then, the left and right binarized images 5 (5 _l , 5 _r ) are divided by the image display control means 40 into the sides 7 (7 _l , 7 _r ) where the ends of the breast regions overlap each other as shown in FIG. their midpoint P _l with _confront, aligned to match the P _r, and outputs the position specifying information I of the right and left breast image obtained by the combined said position on the display unit 45. The display means 45 displays an image aligned based on the position designation information I and the original image data S (S ₁ , S _r ). As described above, the image display control means 40 may be configured to specify the position of the image and output the position designation information to the display means, or may be configured to output the position information to the left and right mammography images. A configuration may be adopted in which processing is performed so as to match them, and the processed image data is output to the display means.
[0020]
The pair of left and right breast images displayed on the display means 45 in this manner are arranged symmetrically about the midpoint P of the end of the breast region. Thereby, the comparative diagnosis of the left and right breasts on the display screen can be efficiently performed.
[0021]
The image data stored in the storage means 10 such as the hard disk is converted from the stimulable phosphor sheet on which the transmitted X-ray image of the breast is stored and recorded by an image reading apparatus as shown in FIG. This is image data obtained by reading as information.
[0022]
The stimulable phosphor sheet 100 on which the X-ray image of the breast is stored is set at a predetermined position of the reading section 50 of the image reading apparatus. When the stimulable phosphor sheet 100 is set at a predetermined position of the reading section 50, the sheet 100 is conveyed (sub-scan) in the direction of arrow Y by an endless belt 52 driven by a motor 51. On the other hand, the light beam 54 emitted from the laser light source 53 is reflected and deflected by a rotating polygon mirror 56 driven by a motor 55 and rotated at a high speed in the direction of the arrow, and passes through a focusing lens 57 such as an fθ lens. Instead, the light enters the sheet 100 and scans in the direction of arrow X substantially perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow Y). From the portion of the sheet 100 irradiated with the excitation light 54, the stimulated emission light 59 of a light amount corresponding to the image information stored and recorded is diverged, and the stimulated emission light 59 is guided by the light guide 60, It is photoelectrically detected by a multiplier (photomultiplier tube) 61.
[0023]
The light guide 60 is formed by molding a light-guiding material such as an acrylic plate, and has a linear incident end face 60 a extending along the main scanning line on the stimulable phosphor sheet 100. The light receiving surface of the photomultiplier 61 is connected to the emission end face 60b which is arranged in such a manner as to be annular. The stimulated emission light 59 entering the light guide 60 from the incident end face 60a travels through the inside of the light guide 60 by repeating total reflection, exits from the exit end face 60b, is received by the photomultiplier 61, and is received by the X-ray image. Is converted into an electric signal by the photomultiplier 61.
[0024]
The analog output signal S output from the photomultiplier 61 is logarithmically amplified by a log amplifier 62 and is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter 63. The obtained image data S is stored in the storage means 10. You.
[0025]
As described above, the apparatus according to the present invention displays a pair of left and right mammographic images with their back-to-back images determined at the center position of the end of the breast region of those images, and matching the center positions thereof. However, the center position of the end of the breast region may be obtained in any manner, or when the center position is obtained after the breast region is once detected as in the above-described embodiment, the breast region may be obtained. For the detection, any means other than the density histogram may be used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an image display device according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a density histogram and a binarized image obtained based on the histogram; FIG. FIG. 4 shows the operation of the display device. FIG. 4 shows the image reading device.
Reference Signs List 10 storage means 15 breast image display device 20 breast area detection means 30 central position detection means 35 position detection means 40 image display control means 45 display means d breast area end P midpoint of breast area end

Claims (2)

A breast image display device for displaying a pair of left and right mammography images on a display means and simultaneously displaying the images,
From the respective image data carrying the pair of left and right mammography images, position detection means for detecting the center position of the breast region end on one side of the image among the respective breast regions of the pair of images,
Based on the information indicating the central position detected by the position detecting means, the display means is configured to face the pair of left and right mammographic images to the sides where the respective breast region ends are overlapped, and align the respective central positions. A breast image display device comprising: an image display control means for displaying the breast image. The position detecting means,
Breast region detecting means for detecting each breast region of the pair of images from each image data carrying the pair of left and right mammography images,
2. The breast image display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a center position detecting unit that detects a center position of an end of the breast region on one side of the image among the detected breast regions.

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