Medical image processing apparatus and image display control method for the same

1. A medical image processing apparatus, comprising:

processing circuitry configured to

extract an emphysema region that is at least part of a lung from three-dimensional image data,

extract bronchi in the extracted emphysema region,

calculate area ratios, each area ratio being between a lumen and a wall of each of the extracted bronchi, and

identify a responsible bronchus that is within a prescribed distance from the emphysema region from among the bronchi,

select an area ratio, corresponding to the responsible bronchus, from among the area ratios,

allocate pixel values, corresponding to the selected area ratio, to corresponding positions on a bronchus image indicating the responsible bronchus so as to generate a superimposed image in which an area ratio image indicating the selected area ratio is superimposed on the bronchus image; and

cause a display to display the superimposed image.

2. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to extract the emphysema region having a size larger than a prescribed size.

3. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

set the pixel values in a gradient of colors, and

generate the superimposed image based on the area ratio image in the gradient of colors.

4. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

extract a core line of the responsible bronchus, and

superimpose the area ratio image on the bronchus image related to a cross section orthogonal to the core line.

5. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

extract a core line of the responsible bronchus,

determine contours of an inner wall and an outer wall of the responsible bronchus along the core line, and

calculate, based on the determined contours of the inner wall and the outer wall, ratios between an area inside the contour of the outer wall of the responsible bronchus and an area obtained by excluding the area inside the contour of the inner wall from the area inside the contour of the outer wall, as the area ratios.

6. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to superimpose the area ratio image on the bronchus image in an axial cross section.

7. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to superimpose the area ratio image on the bronchus image in a sagittal cross section.

8. The medical image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to set the pixel values such that the area ratio image has transparency.

9. An image display control method for a medical image processing apparatus, comprising:

extracting an emphysema region that is at least part of a lung, from three-dimensional image data;

extracting bronchi in the extracted emphysema region;

calculating area ratios, each area ratio being between a lumen and a wall of each of the extracted bronchi,

identifying a responsible bronchus that is within a prescribed distance from the emphysema region from among the bronchi,

selecting an area ratio, corresponding to the responsible bronchus, from among the area ratios;

allocating pixel values, corresponding to the selected area ratio, to corresponding positions on a bronchus image indicating the responsible bronchus so as to generate a superimposed image in which an area ratio image indicating the selected area ratio is superimposed on the bronchus image; and

displaying the superimposed image on a display.