A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to change the position of a breast rendered in a first medical image. On the basis of the post-change position of the breast, the processing circuitry is configured to correct the position of the breast rendered in a second medical image in which the positional arrangement state of the breast is the same as that in the first medical image.

A method is for monitoring a tissue removal taking place via an X-ray imaging system. The method includes acquiring first X-ray projection scan data, influenced by a contrast medium, of the breast tissue situated in an image field of the X-ray imaging system. The contrast medium-influenced first X-ray projection scan data is generated with X-ray photons having a photon energy above an absorption edge of the contrast medium used. A first image data set is then reconstructed based upon the acquired X-ray projection scan data. Finally, based upon the reconstructed first image data set, the method includes determining a current position of the lesion, in relation to a reference coordinate system.

A method of processing a given region of interest (ROI) of an X-ray image of a person's breast to determine presence of a malignancy, the X-ray image having X-ray pixels that indicate intensity of X-rays that passed through the breast to generate the image, the method comprising: for each given X-ray pixel in the given ROI and each of a selection of J(r) X-ray pixels at respective pixel radii PR(r), 1≤r≤R, from the given x-ray pixel, determining a binary number that provides a measure X-ray intensity indicated by the selected X-ray pixel relative to X-ray intensity indicated by the given X-ray pixel; using the determined binary numbers for the selected X-ray pixels at each pixel radius PR(r) to determine a decimal number for the pixel radius PR(r); histogramming the frequency of occurrence of values of the determined decimal numbers as a function of pixel radius for the given X-ray pixels in the given ROI; determining a texture feature vector, for the given ROI having components that are equal to the frequencies of occurrence for a selection of M histogrammed values; and processing the histogrammed frequencies of occurrence for the M values to determine whether the given ROI is malignant.

According to one embodiment, a mammography apparatus includes: a breast placement stage on which a breast is placed; a compression plate that compresses the breast placed on the breast placement stage; a supporting arm that supports the breast placement stage in such a manner that the stage can be tilted; and processing circuitry that controls driving of the compression plate in such a manner that the breast placed on the breast placement stage tilted by the supporting arm is supported from below and compressed.

A medical apparatus for X-ray analysis, includes a source for X-rays, a detector defining a detection plane, a probe with a needle for treating the patient, an immobiliser, a frame supporting the source, the detector, the immobiliser and the probe. A control unit connects to the source and detector. The probe is connected to the frame movably along a first direction, a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a third direction at right angles to the detection plane, the first direction and the second direction lying in a plane parallel to the detection plane. The apparatus moves the probe in a zone above the immobiliser and positions the needle, along the first direction, in the zone and in the right and left side relative to the immobiliser. The immobiliser is connected to the frame and is movable, independently of the probe, along the third direction.

A size and/or shape specific 3D-beam modulation filter and a size and/or shape specific immobilizer are provided for cone-beam breast computed tomography (bCT). The immobilizer places the breast on an optimal position in the field of view of the scanner system and the 3D-beam modulation filter modulates the incident x-ray beam in the cone-angle (i.e. z-axis of the detector panel) and fan angle (i.e. x-axis of the detector panel) directions in order to improve equalization of the photon fluence incident upon the detector panel and reduce unnecessary radiation dose that the breast receives. Both the immobilizer and the 3D-beam modulation filter are selected among a plurality of alternatives based on the specific shape, size and/or shape or size of the person's breast.

A console (information processing apparatus) of a mammography apparatus includes: a compression conditions acquisition unit that acquires a compression force and a compression thickness measured in the imaging of a first breast that is one of a right breast and a left breast; a compression conditions estimation unit that, in the case of imaging a second breast that is the other one of the right breast and the left breast, estimates a compression force and a compression thickness of the second breast using the compression force and the compression thickness of the first breast; and a display unit that displays the compression force and the compression thickness estimated by the compression conditions estimation unit at least in imaging of the second breast.

A station for tomotactic-guided biopsy in prone includes a table with an aperture, and a tomosynthesis imaging system. A biopsy gun can be mounted on a stage arm assembly disposed below the table. The imaging system and stage arm assembly can be independently rotated and linearly repositioned in one or more dimensions, thereby allowing the tomotactic scan axis to be located relative to a breast being imaged.

The present disclosure relates to an insert system for performing positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The insert system can be reversibly installed to an existing system, such that PET functionality can be introduced into the existing system without the need to significantly modify the existing system. The present disclosure also relates to a multi-modality imaging system capable for conducting both PET imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The PET and MRI imaging can be performed simultaneously or sequentially, while the performance of neither imaging modality is compromised for the operation of the other imaging modality.

A device and methods for performing a simulated CT biopsy on a region of interest on a patient. The device comprises a gantry (22) configured to mount an x-ray emitter (24) and CT detector (26) on opposing sides of the gantry, a motor (28) rotatably coupled to the gantry such that the gantry rotates horizontally about the region of interest, and a high resolution x-ray detector (172) positioned adjacent the CT detector in between the CT detector and the x-ray emitter.