Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program

An image processing method executed by a computer, the image processing method comprising:

• acquiring a series of a plurality of projection images or a plurality of tomographic images obtained by performing tomosynthesis imaging by irradiating a breast with radiation having a first energy;
• acquiring a plurality of normal two-dimensional images captured by irradiating the breast with radiation having a second energy, which is higher than the first energy, a plurality of times;
• calculating, for each of the plurality of normal two-dimensional images, a virtual projection position, which is a position at which the breast is virtually projected during the tomosynthesis imaging, from a position of a radiation source in a case in which the normal two-dimensional image is captured;
• generating a composite two-dimensional image from the plurality of projection images or the plurality of tomographic images based on the virtual projection position calculated for each of the plurality of normal two-dimensional images;
• and
• generating a difference image between each of the plurality of normal two-dimensional images and each of the composite two-dimensional images generated for each of the plurality of normal two-dimensional images.

A non-transitory storage medium storing an image processing program causing a computer to execute a process comprising:

• acquiring a series of a plurality of projection images or a plurality of tomographic images obtained by performing tomosynthesis imaging by irradiating a breast with radiation having a first energy;
• acquiring a plurality of normal two-dimensional images captured by irradiating the breast with radiation having a second energy, which is higher than the first energy, a plurality of times;
• calculating, for each of the plurality of normal two-dimensional images, a virtual projection position, which is a position at which the breast is virtually projected during the tomosynthesis imaging, from a position of a radiation source in a case in which the normal two-dimensional image is captured;
• generating a composite two-dimensional image from the plurality of projection images or the plurality of tomographic images based on the virtual projection position calculated for each of the plurality of normal two-dimensional images;
• and
• generating a difference image between each of the plurality of normal two-dimensional images and each of the composite two-dimensional images generated for each of the plurality of normal two-dimensional images.