Method and apparatus for quantifying image

An image quantifying apparatus for performing quantification from two-dimensional digital image information, comprising:

• a display device which displays a two-dimensional image based on the two-dimensional digital image information;
• a setting device which sets a background region around a region of interest to be quantified in the displayed two-dimensional image, said background region not including said region of interest;
• a statistical treatment device which determines a statistical distribution of pixel-based intensity for all pixels in said background region and determines a statistical quantity from said statistical distribution;
• a determining device which determines an average intensity of said region of interest from the determined statistical quantity, said average intensity serving as a reference for finding said region of interest significant;
• and
• a testing device which tests said region of interest for its significance based on the determined reference average intensity.

An image processing system for reading and quantifying image information of an image comprising:

• an image reading apparatus supplying image information from a stimulable phosphor sheet;
• and
• an image quantifying apparatus for performing quantification of image information, comprising:
• a display device which displays the image based on the image information;
• a setting device which sets a background region enclosing a region of interest to be quantified in the displayed image;
• a statistical treatment device which determines a statistical distribution of pixel-based intensity for all pixels in said background region and determines a statistical quantity from said statistical distribution, said statistical distribution omitting pixel-based intensity for said region of interest;
• a determining device which determines a reference average intensity of said region of interest from the determined statistical quantity, said reference average intensity serving as a reference for finding said region of interest significant;
• and
• a testing device which tests said region of interest for its significance based on the determined reference average intensity.