Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and image processing apparatus

1. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, comprising:

processing circuitry configured to

generate three-dimensional image data based on reflected-wave data received by an ultrasound probe,

generate a two-dimensional tomographic image using the three-dimensional image data,

set a value of an image quality adjusting parameter used for generating a virtual endoscopic image so that a position of an internal wall of a lumen in the three-dimensional image data matches a corresponding position of the internal wall of the lumen in the two-dimensional tomographic image or so that a distance between two points on opposing sides of the internal wall of the lumen in the three-dimensional image data is equal to a corresponding distance between two points set in the two-dimensional tomographic image;

generate the virtual endoscopic image by projecting an inside of the lumen from a predetermined viewpoint and using the value of the set image quality adjusting parameter; and

cause a predetermined display to display the virtual endoscopic image.

2. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to set the value of the image quality adjusting parameter so that the distance between the two points, each of which is on a different one of opposing sides of the internal wall of the lumen in the three-dimensional image data is equal to the corresponding distance between the two points, each of which is set on the different one of the opposing sides of the internal wall of the lumen in the two-dimensional tomographic image.

3. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the predetermined display to display an alert suggesting an erroneous setting, when a brightness level at a point set in the two-dimensional tomographic image exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

4. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause a guide line to be displayed on a line connecting two points in the virtual endoscopic image that correspond to the two points, each of which is set on a different one of the opposing sides of the internal wall of the lumen rendered in the two-dimensional tomographic image.

5. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to set the value of the image quality adjusting parameter so that a portion of the internal wall of the lumen in the three-dimensional image data is located at a position in the three-dimensional image data having coordinates corresponding to a point set on the internal wall of the lumen in the two-dimensional tomographic image.

6. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to extract a contour line indicating the internal wall of the lumen in the two-dimensional tomographic image and set the value of the image quality adjusting parameter so that a portion of the internal wall of the lumen in the three-dimensional image data is located at positions in the three-dimensional image data corresponding to positions of the extracted contour line in the two-dimensional tomographic image.

7. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the processing circuitry is further configured to generate the virtual endoscopic image by using an adjusted value of the set value of the image quality adjusting parameter, the set value being adjusted to obtain the adjusted value based on an adjustment instruction.

8. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause, in accordance with generation of the virtual endoscopic image reflecting the adjustment instruction, the predetermined display to display a two-dimensional tomographic image generated based on the adjusted value.

9. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

processing circuitry configured to

acquire three-dimensional image data generated based on reflected-wave data received by an ultrasound probe,

generate a two-dimensional tomographic image using the three-dimensional image data,

set a value of an image quality adjusting parameter used for generating a virtual endoscopic image so that a position of an internal wall of a lumen in the three-dimensional image data matches a corresponding position of the internal wall of the lumen in the two-dimensional tomographic image or so that a distance between two points on opposing sides of the internal wall of the lumen in the three-dimensional image data is equal to a corresponding distance between two points set in the two-dimensional tomographic image;

generate the virtual endoscopic image by projecting an inside of the lumen from a predetermined viewpoint and using the value of the set image quality adjusting parameter; and

cause a predetermined display to display the virtual endoscopic image.

10. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, comprising:

processing circuitry configured to

generate three-dimensional image data based on reflected-wave data received by an ultrasound probe,

generate a two-dimensional tomographic image using the three-dimensional image data,

set a value of an image quality adjusting parameter used for generating a projection image so that a position of a site in the three-dimensional image data matches a corresponding position of the site in the two-dimensional tomographic image;

generate the projection image by projecting the site from a predetermined viewpoint and using the value of the set image quality adjusting parameter; and

cause a predetermined display to display the projection image.