Medical image processing system

• US 20060034503A1
• Filed: 08/02/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimayama, Toshihide
• Application Number:
  US11/194,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20060034503A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/132
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30061 Lung
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30068 Mammography; Breast
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30168 Image quality inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection

Abstract

A medical image processing system having an image generation unit; an image quality inspection terminal; and an image interpretation terminal is provided. The system is capable of determining whether additional imaging or the like is required and the type objectively and rapidly prior to an image interpretation to be performed by a doctor to further improve the efficiency of the image interpretation and diagnosis. An additional imaging determining section is incorporated into a QA-WS (image quality inspection terminal). The determining section is configured to perform a predetermined image analysis on the image data generated by the image generation unit to determine whether additional imaging or the like is required and the type objectively. The inspection engineer performs image quality inspection, and directs additional imaging or the like, if necessary, by referring to the determination result at the QA-WS.

Claims

1. A medical image processing system, comprising:

an image generation unit for generating a medical image that represents a test subject;

an image quality inspection terminal having an output decision accepting section for accepting a decision whether to output the medical image generated by the image generation unit and inputted thereto; and

an interpretation terminal for displaying the medical image inputted thereto from the image quality inspection terminal,

wherein the image quality inspection terminal further comprises;

a determining section configured to perform a first determination process for determining whether additional imaging or an additional medical examination is required based on the medical image inputted thereto, and a second determination process for determining the type of the required additional imaging or medical examination, if the additional imaging or medical examination is determined necessary by the first determination process; and

an output section configured to output information which indicates that the additional imaging or medical examination is required and the type thereof, if the additional imaging or medical examination is determined necessary by the determining section.

2. The medical image processing system according to claim 1, wherein:

the medical image is a plain radiation image of a chest;

the determining section comprises a nodule shadow detecting section for detecting a nodule shadow candidate on the plain radiation chest image; and

the determining section is configured to determine that additional imaging is required when the nodule shadow candidate is detected by the nodule shadow detecting section, and to further determine that the type of the additional imaging required is tomographic imaging of the chest.

3. The medical image processing system according to claim 1, wherein:

the medical image is a breast radiation image;

the determining section comprises a tumor shadow detecting section for detecting a candidate of tumor shadow on the breast radiation image; and

the determining section is configured to determine that additional imaging is required when the tumor shadow candidate is detected by the tumor shadow detecting section, and to further determine that the type of the additional imaging required is magnified imaging of the breast.

4. The medical image processing system according to claim 1, wherein:

the medical image is a breast radiation image;

the determining section comprises a mammary gland classifying section for classifying the breast on the breast radiation image into one of a plurality of categories classified according to the distribution of the mammary glands; and

the determining section is configured to determine that additional imaging is required when the breast is classified into a particular category of the plurality of categories, indicating that the breast has relatively dense mammary glands, by the mammary gland classifying section, and to further determine that the type of the additional medical examination required is a medical examination through ultrasound imaging.

5. The medical image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the output section is configured to tag information which indicates that the additional imaging or medical examination is required and the type thereof to a medical image inputted to the image quality inspection terminal when the additional imaging or medical examination is determined necessary by the determining section.