Image processing device, image processing method, image processing program, and magnetic resonance imaging device

An image processing method for creating a susceptibility image representing a magnetic susceptibility of at least one tissue in a subject, from an image created on the basis of magnetic resonance signals generated from the subject, the image processing method comprising:

• an image separation step for separating from the image, a specific tissue image representing a content of a predetermined specific tissue and a frequency image;
• a computational processing step for calculating a post-subtraction frequency image obtained by subtracting from the frequency image, frequency change caused by the specific tissue;
• and
• an image conversion step for calculating a specific susceptibility image representing the magnetic susceptibility of the specific tissue on the basis of the specific tissue image, and calculating a post-subtraction susceptibility image on the basis of the post-subtraction frequency image.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing an image processing program, which when executed by a processor, causes a computer to implement creation of a susceptibility image representing a magnetic susceptibility of at least one tissue in a subject, from an image created on the basis of magnetic resonance signals generated from the subject, and further causes the computer to perform:

• an image separation step for separating from the image, a specific tissue image representing a content of a predetermined specific tissue and a frequency image;
• a computational processing step for calculating a post-subtraction frequency image obtained by subtracting from the frequency image, frequency change caused by the specific tissue;
• and
• an image conversion step for calculating a specific susceptibility image representing the magnetic susceptibility of the specific tissue on the basis of the specific tissue image, and calculating a post-subtraction susceptibility image on the basis of the post-subtraction frequency image.

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:

• a measurement unit configured to measure a magnetic resonance signal generated from a subject, by applying an RF magnetic field pulse and a gradient magnetic field to the subject placed in a static magnetic field;
• an image reconstructor configured to reconstruct an image on the basis of the magnetic resonance signal;
• and
• an image processor configured to create from the image, a susceptibility image representing a magnetic susceptibility of at least one tissue of the subject, wherein
• the image processor comprises:
• an image separator configured to separate from the image, a specific tissue image representing a content of a predetermined specific tissue and a frequency image;
• an adder-subtractor configured to calculate a post-subtraction frequency image obtained by subtracting from the frequency image, frequency change caused by the specific tissue;
• and
• an image converter configured to calculate a specific susceptibility image representing the magnetic susceptibility of the specific tissue on the basis of the specific tissue image, and to calculate a post-subtraction susceptibility image on the basis of the post-subtraction frequency image.