A processor is configured to set whether or not to generate a structure-highlighted synthesized two-dimensional image from a plurality of tomographic images and to set at least some of the plurality of tomographic images as storage-required images or non-storage-required images according to a result of the setting of whether or not to generate the structure-highlighted synthesized two-dimensional image.

Systems and methods for analyzing pathologies utilizing quantitative imaging are presented herein. Advantageously, the systems and methods of the present disclosure utilize a hierarchical analytics framework that identifies and quantify biological properties/analytes from imaging data and then identifies and characterizes one or more pathologies based on the quantified biological properties/analytes. This hierarchical approach of using imaging to examine underlying biology as an intermediary to assessing pathology provides many analytic and processing advantages over systems and methods that are configured to directly determine and characterize pathology from underlying imaging data.

An image interpretation support apparatus includes: an acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of projection images obtained by tomosynthesis imaging in which a radiation is irradiated to a breast from different irradiation angles by a radiation source and a projection image is captured at each irradiation angle by a radiation detector; a first generation unit that generates a plurality of tomographic images on each of a plurality of tomographic planes of the breast from the plurality of projection images; a second generation unit that generates a synthetic two-dimensional image from a plurality of images among the plurality of projection images and the plurality of tomographic images; a detection unit that detects an object of interest candidate region estimated to include an object of interest from the synthetic two-dimensional image; and a determination unit that determines whether or not the object of interest is included in the object of interest candidate region on the basis of the plurality of tomographic images.

Provided herein are diffractometer-based global in situ diagnostic systems and uses thereof. The systems may comprise one or more tissue diffractometers that are configured for acquiring in situ diffraction data for a subject, e.g., a patient, and that are operatively coupled to a computer database over a network. The one or more tissue diffractometers may be configured for transfer of data such as image data, diffraction pattern data, subject data, or any combination thereof to the computer database over the network. The systems may further comprise one or more computer processors operatively coupled to the tissue diffractometers, which computer processors may be configured to receive the data from the tissue diffractometers, transmit the data to the computer database, and process the data using a data analytics algorithm which may provide a computer-aided diagnostic indicator for the individual subject.

A method and apparatus for tracking disease progression as revealed by multiple lesions perform a global optimization to identify corresponding lesions by overlap, for example, after outlines of the lesions have been morphologically dilated. A clustering algorithm addresses the problem of lesions separating into parts or joining together to provide a clear picture of disease progression.

Assessment of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) can be performed by calculating a cardiac pyrophosphate activity (CPA) measurement from single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images. SPECT images obtained using .sup.99mTechnetium-pyrophosphate as a radiotracer can be analyzed to calculate CPA. Scan-specific thresholds for abnormal myocardial activity are identified based on left ventricular blood pool (LVBP) radiotracer counts, then radiotracer activity in regions of the myocardium with abnormal myocardial activity is determined. Finally, a CPA measurement can be calculated as a function of the mean radiotracer counts in such regions over the maximal LVBP radiotracer activity multiplied by the volume of involvement (e.g., the volume of abnormal activity). This CPA measurement can then be used as an assessment of ATTR-CM.

A method for processing breast tissue image data includes obtaining image data of a patient's breast tissue, processing the image data to generate a set of image slices, the image slices collectively depicting the patient's breast tissue; feeding image slices of the set through each of a plurality of object-recognizing modules, each of the object-recognizing modules being configured to recognize a respective type of object that may be present in the image slices; combining objects recognized by the respective object-recognizing modules to generate a synthesized image of the patient's breast tissue; and displaying the synthesized image.

A method for vascular assessment is disclosed. The method, in some embodiments, comprises receiving a plurality of 2-D angiographic images of a portion of a vasculature of a subject, and processing the images to produce a stenotic model over the vasculature, the stenotic model having measurements of the vasculature at one or more locations along vessels of the vasculature. The method, in some embodiments, further comprises obtaining a flow characteristic of the stenotic model, and calculating an index indicative of vascular function, based, at least in part, on the flow characteristic in the stenotic model.

There is provided a medical image processing apparatus which includes a first extraction unit configured to extract coronary arteries depicted in images of a plurality of time phases relating to the heart, and to extract at least one stenosed part depicted in each coronary artery; a calculation unit configured to calculate a pressure gradient of each of the extracted coronary arteries, based on tissue blood flow volumes of the coronary arteries; a second extraction unit configured to extract an ischemic region depicted in the images; and a specifying unit configured to specify a responsible blood vessel of the ischemic region by referring to a dominance map, in which each of the extracted coronary arteries and a dominance territory are associated, for the extracted ischemic region, and to specify a responsible stenosis, based on the pressure gradient corresponding to a stenosed part in the specified responsible blood vessel.

Methods for quantitatively separating x-ray images of a subject having three or more component materials into component images using spectral imaging or multiple-energy imaging with 2D radiographic hardware implemented with scatter removal methods. The multiple-energy system may be extended by implementing DRC multiple energy decomposition and K-edge subtraction imaging methods.