Diagnostic assistance apparatus, ultrasound endoscope, diagnostic assistance method, and program

A diagnostic assistance method comprising:

• acquiring a first ultrasound image which is generated by an ultrasound endoscope and which shows a target area of observation;
• and
• switching between a first operating mode and a second operating mode according to whether or not reference information referenced to diagnose the target area of observation is combined with the first ultrasound image, according to whether or not the first ultrasound image is an image obtained in an auxiliary image mode, which is an image mode other than a main image mode, or according to a set value that stipulates the image quality of the first ultrasound image, wherein:
• the first operating mode is an operating mode that performs detection of a specific area from the first ultrasound image on the basis of detection assistance information created using a second ultrasound image obtained in the main image mode, and
• the second operating mode is an operating mode that performs detection of the specific area but does not output a detection result, or that does not perform detection of the specific area.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program executable by a computer to execute a process comprising:

• acquiring a first ultrasound image which is generated by an ultrasound endoscope and which shows a target area of observation;
• and
• switching between a first operating mode and a second operating mode according to whether or not reference information referenced to diagnose the target area of observation is combined with the first ultrasound image, according to whether or not the first ultrasound image is an image obtained in an auxiliary image mode, which is an image mode other than a main image mode, or according to a set value that stipulates the image quality of the first ultrasound image, wherein:
• the first operating mode is an operating mode that performs detection of a specific area from the first ultrasound image on the basis of detection assistance information created using a second ultrasound image obtained in the main image mode, and
• the second operating mode is an operating mode that performs detection of the specific area but does not output a detection result, or that does not perform detection of the specific area.