Computer-aided diagnostic apparatus

A computer aided diagnostic system, comprising:

• a processor configured to
• detect a first cancer candidate by automatically extracting a first field of interest based upon a simple X-ray image of a subject acquired by a simple X-ray device, and extracting the first cancer candidate in the first field of interest, the simple X-ray image being defined over a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
• attempt to detect a second cancer candidate in a second field of interest based upon an X-ray CT image of a plurality of X-ray CT images related to a same region of interest of the same subject acquired by an X-ray CT device;
• and
• compare the results of detection of the first detecting and second attempt of detecting and determine automatically whether the second cancer candidate was detected in any of the X-ray CT images,
• wherein when it is determined that the second cancer candidate was not detected in any of the X-ray CT images, a marker extending in a third direction intersecting with the first and second directions is displayed on a displayed X-ray CT image, the marker indicating a region in which a sick portion candidate might exist.

A computer aided diagnosing method, comprising:

• detecting a cancer candidate by automatically extracting a field of interest based upon a simple X-ray image acquired by a simple X-ray device, and extracting the cancer candidate in the field of interest, the simple X-ray image being defined over a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
• automatically determining whether a sick portion candidate corresponding to the cancer candidate exists in any of a plurality of X-ray CT images acquired by an X-ray CT device and corresponds to a position of the detected cancer candidate;
• and
• displaying a marker extending in a third direction intersecting with the first and second directions on a displayed X-ray CT image when it is determined that the sick portion candidate corresponding to the cancer candidate does not exist in any of the X-ray CT images, the marker indicating a region in which a sick portion candidate might exist.

A computer aided diagnosing method, comprising:

• detecting a first cancer candidate by automatically extracting a first field of interest based upon a simple X-ray image of a subject acquired by a simple X-ray device, and extracting the first cancer candidate in the first field of interest, the simple X-ray image being defined over a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
• attempting to detect a second cancer candidate in a second field of interest based upon an X-ray CT image of a plurality of X-ray CT images related to a same region of interest of the same subject acquired by an X-ray CT device;
• and
• comparing the results of detection of the first detecting and second attempt of detecting and automatically determining whether the second cancer candidate was detected in any of the X-ray CT images,
• wherein when it is determined that the second cancer candidate was not detected in any of the X-ray CT images, displaying a marker extending in a third direction intersecting with the first and second directions on a displayed X-ray CT image, the marker indicating a region in which a sick portion candidate might exist.