Patent Publication Number: US-2023162703-A1

Title: Medical image processing apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of and claims the priority benefit of a prior application Ser. No. 17/129,864, filed on Dec. 21, 2020, now pending. The prior application Ser. No. 17/129,864 is a Continuation of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP2019/022047 filed on 3 Jun. 2019, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-140953 filed on 27 Jul. 2018. The above application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference, in its entirety, into the present application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a medical image processing apparatus using an analysis result of a medical image. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the medical field, by using a medical image such as an endoscopic image, an X-ray image, a computed tomography (CT) image, or a magnetic resonance (MR) image, image diagnosis such as diagnosis of a patient&#39;s condition or follow-up is made. On the basis of such image diagnosis, physicians or the like determine a treatment policy or the like. 
     In recent years, in image diagnosis using a medical image, automatic recognition processing is being performed on a region of interest to be observed with attention to a lesion, a tumor, or the like in an organ by a medical image processing apparatus analyzing a medical image. In particular, through machine learning such as deep learning, information about the region of interest is leaned from previous medical images, and the medical image processing apparatus performs recognition processing on a region of interest on the basis of the information acquired through learning, with dramatically high accuracy. 
     For example, JP2011-160848A (corresponding to US2012/0274754A1) describes an endoscope (medical image processing apparatus) that displays an alert if a region of interest is detected. JP2011-160848A also describes a configuration that continues displaying the alert even if the region of interest becomes out of a screen. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     However, the apparatus described in JP2011-160848A above has a problem of a large examination load. That is, since the apparatus described in JP2011-160848A cannot grasp the elapsed time after change of a detection state of the region of interest (e.g., whether the detection state is a detected state in which the region of interest is detected or an undetected state in which the region of interest is not detected), if the detection state enters the undetected state as a result of the region of interest becoming out of the screen, for example, it is uncertain how much an endoscope is to be moved back in order to enter the detected state by returning the region of interest to the inside of the screen. This increases the load for returning the region of interest to the inside of the screen to enter (make transition to) the detected state again from the undetected state. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object thereof is to provide a medical image processing apparatus that can reduce the examination load. 
     In order to solve the above problem, a medical image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: 
     a processor configured to:
         acquire a medical image obtained by capturing an image of an observation target;   detect a region of interest from the medical image; and   cause a display to display report information and the medical image, the report information reporting that the region of interest has been detected,       

     wherein a screen displayed on the display has a first region in which the medical image is displayed, and a second region provided outside the first region, and 
     wherein the second region is divided into four regions by using line segments passing through a center of the first region, and a detected location of the region of interest is reported by displaying the report information in one of the four regions. 
     The report information is displayed in a form of a bar. 
     In a case where an undetected state in which the region of interest is not detected transitions to a detected state in which the region of interest is detected, the processor checks in which region on the screen among an upper right region, a lower right region, an upper left region, and a lower left region, the region of interest has been detected, and wherein, in a case where the region of interest has been detected in the upper right region on the screen, the bar is displayed in a longest state in an upper right region of the second region on the screen; in a case where the region of interest has been detected in the lower right region on the screen, the bar is displayed in the longest state in a lower right region of the second region on the screen; in a case where the region of interest has been detected in the upper left region on the screen, the bar is displayed in the longest state in an upper left region of the second region on the screen; and in a case where the region of interest has been detected in the lower left region on the screen, the bar is displayed in the longest state in a lower left region of the second region on the screen. 
     In a detected state in which the region of interest is detected, a display position of the bar is moved corresponding to change of the detected location of the region of interest. 
     In a case where a detected state in which the region of interest is detected transitions to an undetected state in which the region of interest is not detected, the bar is displayed at a position corresponding to a most recent detected location of the region of interest without changing a display position of the bar, and a length of the bar is reduced over time. 
     The second region is provided on a peripheral part of the first region. 
     A display position or a shape of the second region is changed depending on the detected location of the region of interest. 
     Colors of the four regions of the second region are changed depending on the detected location of the region of interest. 
     An endoscope system includes: 
     an endoscope apparatus; and 
     a medical image processing apparatus including a processor configured to:
         acquire a medical image obtained by capturing an image of an observation target;   detect a region of interest from the medical image; and   cause a display to display report information and the medical image, the report information reporting that the region of interest has been detected,       

     wherein a screen displayed on the display has a first region in which the medical image is displayed, and a second region provided outside the first region, and 
     wherein the second region is divided into four regions by using line segments passing through a center of the first region, and a detected location of the region of interest is reported by displaying the report information in one of the four regions. 
     According to the present invention, since it is possible to grasp the elapsed time after change of the detection state of the region of interest, the examination load can be reduced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram illustrating a medical image processing apparatus, an endoscope apparatus, and the like; 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram illustrating the endoscope apparatus; 
         FIG.  3    is a block diagram illustrating functions of a medical image analysis processing unit; 
         FIG.  4    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information; 
         FIG.  5    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information; 
         FIG.  6    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information; 
         FIG.  7    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information; 
         FIG.  8    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information; 
         FIG.  9    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information; 
         FIG.  10    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information; 
         FIG.  11    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information; 
         FIG.  12    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information; 
         FIG.  13    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information; 
         FIG.  14    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information; 
         FIG.  15    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information; 
         FIG.  16    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information; 
         FIG.  17    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information; 
         FIG.  18    is a diagnosis support apparatus including the medical image processing apparatus; 
         FIG.  19    is a medical service support apparatus including the medical image processing apparatus; and 
         FIG.  20    is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display manner of report information. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , a medical image processing apparatus  10  includes a medical image acquiring unit  11 , a medical image analysis processing unit  12 , a display unit  13 , a display control unit  15 , an input receiving unit  16 , a general control unit  17 , and a storage unit  18 . 
     The medical image acquiring unit  11  acquires a medical image including a photographic subject image directly from an endoscope apparatus  21  or the like or through a management system or another information system, such as a picture archiving and communication system (PACS)  22 . The medical image is a still image or a moving image (so-called examination moving image). In a case where the medical image is a moving image, the medical image acquiring unit  11  can acquire frame images constituting the moving image as still images after examination. In addition, in a case where the medical image is a moving image, display of the medical image includes, not only displaying one typical frame still image constituting the moving image, but also reproducing the moving image once or a plurality of times. In addition, the medical image acquired by the medical image acquiring unit  11  includes, not only an image captured by a physician with a medical apparatus such as the endoscope apparatus  21 , but also an image automatically captured by a medical apparatus such as the endoscope apparatus  21  regardless of an image pickup instruction from a physician. Note that both the medical image processing apparatus  10  and the endoscope apparatus  21  perform image processing by using a medical image in this embodiment, and thus, each of the medical image processing apparatus  10  and the endoscope apparatus  21  corresponds to a medical image processing apparatus according to the present invention. 
     In a case where a plurality of medical images may be acquired, the medical image acquiring unit  11  can selectively acquire one or more medical images from these medical images. In addition, the medical image acquiring unit  11  can acquire a plurality of medical images acquired in a plurality of mutually different examinations. For example, either or both of a medical image acquired in a previously performed examination and a medical image acquired in the most recent examination can be acquired. That is, the medical image acquiring unit  11  can acquire a medical image or medical images as appropriate. 
     In this embodiment, a plurality of medical images including a photographic subject image are acquired. More specifically, in a case of acquiring a plurality of medical images captured in a single specific examination, the plurality of medical images are acquired from a series of medical images. In addition, in this embodiment, the medical image processing apparatus  10  is connected to the endoscope apparatus  21  and acquires the medical images from the endoscope apparatus  21 . That is, the medical images in this embodiment are endoscopic images. 
     The display unit  13  is a display that displays the medical images acquired by the medical image acquiring unit  11  and an analysis result of the medical image analysis processing unit  12 . A monitor or a display included in a device or the like to which the medical image processing apparatus  10  is connected may be shared and used as the display unit  13  of the medical image processing apparatus  10 . The manner of the display unit  13  displaying the medical images and the analysis result is controlled by the display control unit  15 . 
     The input receiving unit  16  receives inputs from a mouse, a keyboard, or other operation devices connected to the medical image processing apparatus  10 . Operations of the units of the medical image processing apparatus  10  can be controlled by using these operation devices. 
     The general control unit  17  generally controls the operations of the units of the medical image processing apparatus  10 . In a case where the input receiving unit  16  receives an operation input using an operation device, in accordance with the operation input, the general control unit  17  controls the units of the medical image processing apparatus  10 . 
     The storage unit  18  stores a still image of the medical image or the like in a storage device (not illustrated) such as a memory included in the medical image processing apparatus  10  or a storage device (not illustrated) included in a medical apparatus such as the endoscope apparatus  21  or the PACS  22 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the endoscope apparatus  21  to which the medical image processing apparatus  10  is connected in this embodiment has an endoscope  31 , a light source device  32 , a processor device  33 , and a display unit  34 . The endoscope  31  acquires an image by capturing an image of a photographic subject irradiated with at least any of light of a white wavelength range or light of a particular wavelength range. The light source device  32  irradiates the inside of the photographic subject with illumination light through the endoscope  31 . The display unit  34  displays an endoscopic image captured with the endoscope  31  or the like. The light of the particular wavelength range used by the endoscope  31  as illumination light is, for example, light of a shorter-wavelength range than a green wavelength range, and is, in particular, light of a visible wavelength range of blue or violet. 
     The processor device  33  includes a medical image acquiring unit  35 , a medical image analysis processing unit  36 , and a display control unit  37 . The medical image acquiring unit  35  acquires a medical image output from the endoscope  31 . The medical image analysis processing unit  36  performs analysis processing on the medical image acquired by the medical image acquiring unit  35 . Details of processing performed in the medical image analysis processing unit  36  are substantially the same as details of processing performed in the medical image analysis processing unit  12  of the medical image processing apparatus  10 . The display control unit  37  causes the display unit  34  to display a medical image obtained by the medical image analysis processing unit  36 . The processor device  33  is connected to the medical image processing apparatus  10 . Note that the display unit  34  is equivalent to the display unit  13 , the medical image acquiring unit  35  is substantially the same as the medical image acquiring unit  11 , the medical image analysis processing unit  36  is substantially the same as the medical image analysis processing unit  12 , and the display control unit  37  is substantially the same as the display control unit  15 . 
     The medical image analysis processing unit  36  performs analysis processing by using the medical image acquired by the medical image acquiring unit  35 . As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the medical image analysis processing unit  36  includes a region-of-interest detecting unit  41  and a display-manner determining unit  42 . The region-of-interest detecting unit  41  performs region-of-interest detection processing for detecting a region of interest  47  (see  FIG.  4    to  FIG.  6   ,  FIG.  16   ,  FIG.  17   , and  FIG.  20   ) from the medical image. As the region-of-interest detection processing, for example, a neural network (NN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), AdaBoost, a random forest, or the like may be employed. In addition, as the region-of-interest detection processing, the region of interest  47  may be detected on the basis of a feature quantity obtained as color information of a medical image, a gradient of a pixel value, or the like. Note that the gradient of the pixel value or the like changes depending on, for example, the shape of the photographic subject (e.g., global ups and downs or local depression or projection in a mucous membrane), color (color of, for example, inflammation, bleeding, redness, or whitening due to atrophy), feature of an organ (e.g., blood vessel thickness, depth, density, or a combination thereof), feature of a structure (e.g., pit pattern), or the like. 
     Note that the region of interest  47  detected by the region-of-interest detecting unit  41  is a region including, for example, a lesion part typified by a cancer, a benign tumor part, an inflammation part (including, not only a so-called inflammation, but also a part with a change such as bleeding or atrophy), a marking part marked by cauterization by heating or colored with a colorant, a fluorescent agent, or the like, and a biopsy performing part where a biopsy is performed. That is, the region of interest  47  may be a region including a lesion, a region that may possibly be a lesion, a region subjected to certain treatment including a biopsy, a treatment tool including a clip or forceps, a region that needs close observation, regardless of the possibility of a lesion, such as a dark region (a region behind a fold or depth of a luminal organ where observation light is difficult to be delivered), or the like. In the endoscope apparatus  21 , the region-of-interest detecting unit  41  detects, as the region of interest  47 , a region including at least any of the lesion part, the benign tumor part, the inflammation part, the marking part, or the biopsy performing part. 
     The display-manner determining unit  42  determines a display manner of report information for reporting that the region of interest  47  has been detected, and also determines a display manner of a medical image  43  (see  FIG.  4    to  FIG.  17   ). In accordance with the determined display manners, the display control unit  37  causes the display unit  34  to display the report information and the medical image  43 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4    to  FIG.  9   , in this embodiment, for example, on a display screen  44  (hereinafter also simply referred to as screen) displayed on the display unit  34 , a first region  45  for displaying the medical image  43  and a second region  46  for displaying the report information are provided, and the display-manner determining unit  42  determines the display manners of images to be displayed in these first and second regions  45  and  46 . Note that  FIG.  4    to  FIG.  9    illustrate display screens  44  displaying, in screens (in the first region  45 ), a series of medical images  43  that are sequentially acquired in the order from  FIG.  4    to  FIG.  9   , along with an endoscope examination. Each of  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  5   , and  FIG.  6    illustrates a detected state in which the region of interest  47  is detected, whereas each of  FIG.  7   ,  FIG.  8   , and  FIG.  9    illustrates an undetected state in which the region of interest  47  is not detected. 
     In the first region  45  in the detected state, the region of interest  47  is displayed to be superposed on the medical image  43  (see  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  5   , and  FIG.  6   ). In addition, in the first region  45  in the undetected state, only the medical image  43  is displayed (see  FIG.  7   ,  FIG.  8   , and  FIG.  9   ). 
     Note that the region of interest  47  is displayed to be superposed on the medical image  43  by being hatched (see  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  5   , and  FIG.  6   ) in this embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The region of interest  47  may also be displayed to be superposed on the medical image  43  by being colored. Alternatively, the region of interest  47  may also be displayed to be superposed on the medical image  43  by only the outline thereof being colored for emphasis. In this manner, the display form when displaying the region of interest  47  to be superposed on the medical image  43  can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, without limitation to the form of displaying the region of interest  47  to be superposed on the medical image  43 , for example, the region of interest  47  may be emphasized by, for example, being surrounded by a frame. In addition, since the present invention has a main feature in the display manner of the second region  46  (the display manner of report information), which will be described later, the configuration regarding the first region  45  may be such that only the medical image  43  is displayed without displaying or emphasizing the region of interest  47  even in the detected state. As a matter of course, the configuration may be such that the state in which the region of interest  47  is displayed or emphasized and the state in which only the medical image  43  is displayed without displaying the region of interest  47  is switched by a selecting operation of a user (e.g., a physician performing an endoscopic examination). 
     In the second region  46  in the detected state, report information indicating that the region of interest  47  is present in the medical image  43  is displayed (see  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  5   , and  FIG.  6   ). In this embodiment, the report information is displayed in the form of a bar  48  (time bar). Display of the bar  48  starts in a longest state when the undetected state transitions to the detected state, and display in the longest state is maintained until the detected state transitions to the undetected state. When the detected state transitions to the undetected state, the bar  48  is reduced in length over time (see  FIG.  7   ,  FIG.  8   , and  FIG.  9   ). That is, in a state where the detected state transitions to the undetected state, the bar  48  that is reduced in length over time is displayed in the second region  46 . Note that when a predetermined time elapses after transition to the undetected state, the length of the bar  48  becomes 0, and the bar  48  disappears (becomes no longer displayed, see  FIG.  9   ). In addition, in a case where the undetected state transitions to the detected state before the bar  48  disappears, the length of the bar  48  returns to the longest (see  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  5   , and  FIG.  6   ). 
     In the above manner, by changing the display manner of the second region  46  (the display manner of report information) on the basis of the detection state of the region of interest  47  and the elapsed time after change of the detection state, the user can know whether the detection state is the detected state or the elapsed time after entering the undetected state. Thus, for example, if the region of interest  47  that has become out of the screen is to be returned to the inside of the screen again, it is likely to be intuitively understood how much the endoscope is to be moved back, and the region of interest  47  can be returned to the inside of the screen with ease, reducing the examination load. 
     Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and detailed configurations can be changed as appropriate. For example, although the above embodiment has described an example of indicating the elapsed time by using a linear bar, the elapsed time may alternatively be indicated by using a circular bar  49  as illustrated in  FIG.  10   . 
     In addition, the elapsed time may alternatively be indicated by changing color (display color) as illustrated in  FIG.  11    and  FIG.  12   . In  FIG.  11    and  FIG.  12   , regions  50  and  51  colored in different colors are provided in the second region  46 . In the detected state, the entirety of the second region  46  is the region  50 . Once the detected state transitions to the undetected state, the region  50  is reduced over time (the length of the region  50  is made shorter in  FIG.  11   , and the diameter of the region  50  is made smaller in  FIG.  12   ), and, in contrast, the region  51  is increased to indicate the elapsed time. As a matter of course, the elapsed time may also be indicated by changing the density of color (display color) and/or lightness thereof. 
     Furthermore, as illustrated in  FIG.  13   , the elapsed time may also be indicated by using a numeral. In  FIG.  13   , when the detected state transitions to the undetected state, counting down is performed in the second region  46  (the numeric value in the second region  46  is decremented by one per second) to indicate the elapsed time. As a matter of course, the elapsed time may also be indicated by using a character. 
     Furthermore, the elapsed time may also be indicated by combining a plurality of methods described above, such as indicating the elapsed time by using both the bar and the numeric value. 
     In addition, although an example of indicating the elapsed time by decreasing the bar and/or the numeric value or the like has been described, the elapsed time may also be indicated by increasing the bar and/or the numeric value or the like. 
     Note that, in the description with reference to  FIG.  10    and subsequent drawings, substantially the same members as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by substantially the same numerals, and description thereof is omitted. 
     In addition, the position and/or shape of the second region  46  can be freely set. Thus, as illustrated in  FIG.  14    and  FIG.  15   , the second region  46  may also be provided on a peripheral part of the first region  45 . Note that the peripheral part of the first region  45  may be a region inside the first region  45 . In the example in  FIG.  14   , the second region  46  is inside the first region  45  and in outer edge parts of the first region  45  (the regions illustrated by hatching in  FIG.  14   ). The peripheral part of the first region  45  may also be a region outside the first region  45 . In the example in  FIG.  15   , the second region  46  is a rectangular frame-like region (the region illustrated by hatching in  FIG.  15   ) provided outside the first region  45  so as to surround the first region  45 . As a matter of course, the peripheral part of the first region  45  may also be a region across both the region inside the first region  45  and the region outside the first region  45 . 
     Furthermore, the above embodiment has described an example of reporting, by details displayed in the second region  46 , that the region of interest  47  has been detected and reporting the elapsed time after the region of interest  47  has no longer been detected. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as illustrated in  FIG.  16    and  FIG.  20   , the detected location of the region of interest  47  may also be reported. In the examples in  FIG.  16    and  FIG.  20   , the second region  46  is provided on the peripheral part of the first region  45 , and the detected location of the region of interest  47  is reported by displaying a bar  56  in one of four regions  52  to  55  that are formed by dividing the second region  46  into four regions by using line segments passing through the center of the first region  45 . 
     Specifically, in a case where the undetected state transitions to the detected state, it is checked in which region on the screen among the upper right, the lower right, the upper left, and the lower left, the region of interest  47  has been detected. In a case where the region of interest  47  has been detected in the upper right region on the screen, the bar  56  is displayed in the longest state in the upper right region  52  in the second region  46  on the screen; in a case where the region of interest  47  has been detected in the lower right region on the screen, the bar  56  is displayed in the longest state in the lower right region  53  in the second region  46  on the screen; in a case where the region of interest  47  has been detected in the upper left region on the screen, the bar  56  is displayed in the longest state in the upper left region  54  in the second region  46  on the screen; and in a case where the region of interest  47  has been detected in the lower left region on the screen, the bar  56  is displayed in the longest state in the lower left region  55  in the second region  46  on the screen. Note that  FIG.  16    and  FIG.  20    illustrate the state in which the region of interest  47  has been detected in the upper right region  52  on the screen and the bar  56  is displayed in the region  52 . In addition, in the detected state, the display position (the displayed region) of the bar  56  is moved corresponding to change of the location of the region of interest  47 . If the detected state transitions to the undetected state, the display position of the bar  56  is not changed (i.e., the bar  56  is displayed at the position (in the region) corresponding to the most recent detected location of the region of interest  47 ), and the length of the bar  56  is reduced over time (e.g., the bar  56  is reduced from both ends so that the bar  56  remains in a corner portion of the second region  46 ). Thus, the location of the region of interest  47  is known with ease in the detected state. In addition, the detected location of the region of interest  47  at the last detection is known even in the undetected state. This makes it easier to return the region of interest  47  to the inside of the screen, further reducing the examination load. 
     Note that the display manner of the second region  46  for reporting the detected location of the region of interest  47  is not limited to this. For example, in the above-described examples in  FIG.  16    and  FIG.  20   , examples of changing the display position of the bar  56  within the second region  46  depending on the location of the region of interest  47  has been described. However, the display position and/or the shape of the second region  46  itself may also be changed depending on the location of the region of interest  47 . In addition, as illustrated in  FIG.  17   , information about the region of interest  47  may also be displayed for a region in the second region  46 , the region being different from the detected location of the region of interest  47 . In the example in  FIG.  17   , for example, the region  52  corresponding to the detected location of the region of interest  47  is colored in blue, the region  55  that is the most distant from the detected location of the region of interest  47  (the region  55  not adjacent to the region corresponding to the detected location of the region of interest  47 ) is colored in red, and the regions  53  and  54  adjacent to the region corresponding to the detected location of the region of interest  47  are colored in yellow. Thus, for example, even in a case where an examination is being performed with attention to the peripheral part of the region  55  that is the most distant from the region of interest  47 , it is known that the region of interest  47  has been detected, preventing an issue of failing to notice the region of interest  47 . 
     In addition, the above embodiment has described an example of reporting both that the region of interest  47  has been detected and the elapsed time after the region of interest  47  has no longer been detected. However, the configuration may be such as to report only the elapsed time after the region of interest  47  has no longer been detected. In this case, even in a case where the undetected state transitions to the detected state, the elapsed time after entering the undetected state may be reported by displaying, for example, the bar  48  described in the above embodiment when the detected state transitions to the undetected state, without display in the second region  46  (see  FIG.  7    to  FIG.  9   ). 
     Note that as illustrated in  FIG.  18   , the medical image processing apparatus  10  according to the above embodiment or other modifications may be included in a diagnosis support apparatus  610  using the endoscope apparatus  21  or other modalities and the PACS  22  in combination. In addition, as illustrated in  FIG.  19   , the medical image processing apparatus  10  according to the above embodiment or other modifications may be included in a medical service support apparatus  630  that establishes connection with various examination apparatuses via any network  626 . The various examination apparatuses are, for example, a first examination apparatus  621 , a second examination apparatus  622 , . . . , an N-th examination apparatus  623 , and the like, each including the endoscope apparatus  21 . 
     Besides, the medical image processing apparatus  10 , the endoscope apparatus  21 , and various apparatuses or systems including the medical image processing apparatus  10  can be used by making the following various changes, for example. 
     As the medical image, an ordinary-light image may be used. The ordinary-light image is obtained by radiating light of a white range or light of a plurality of wavelength ranges as the light of the white range. 
     In a case where an image obtained by radiating the light of the particular wavelength range is used as the medical image, as the particular wavelength range, a range narrower than the white wavelength range may be used. 
     The particular wavelength range is, for example, a visible wavelength range of blue or green. 
     In a case where the particular wavelength range is the visible wavelength range of blue or green, the particular wavelength range preferably includes a wavelength range that is greater than or equal to 390 nm and is less than or equal to 450 nm, or is greater than or equal to 530 nm and is less than or equal to 550 nm, and the light of the particular wavelength range preferably has a peak wavelength in the wavelength range that is greater than or equal to 390 nm and is less than or equal to 450 nm, or is greater than or equal to 530 nm and is less than or equal to 550 nm. 
     The particular wavelength range is, for example, a visible wavelength range of red. 
     In a case where the particular wavelength range is the visible wavelength range of red, the particular wavelength range preferably includes a wavelength range that is greater than or equal to 585 nm and is less than or equal to 615 nm, or is greater than or equal to 610 nm and is less than or equal to 730 nm, and the light of the particular wavelength range preferably has a peak wavelength in the wavelength range that is greater than or equal to 585 nm and is less than or equal to 615 nm, or is greater than or equal to 610 nm and is less than or equal to 730 nm. 
     The particular wavelength range may include, for example, a wavelength range in which a light absorption coefficient differs between oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin, and the light of the particular wavelength range may have a peak wavelength in the wavelength range in which the light absorption coefficient differs between oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin. 
     In a case where the particular wavelength range includes the wavelength range in which the light absorption coefficient differs between oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin, and the light of the particular wavelength range has the peak wavelength in the wavelength range in which the light absorption coefficient differs between oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin, the particular wavelength range preferably includes a wavelength range of 400±10 nm, 440±10 nm, or 470±10 nm, or a wavelength range that is greater than or equal to 600 nm and is less than or equal to 750 nm, and the light of the particular wavelength range preferably has a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 400±10 nm, 440±10 nm, or 470±10 nm, or in the wavelength range that is greater than or equal to 600 nm and is less than or equal to 750 nm. 
     In a case where the medical image is an inside body image of an inside of a body, the inside body image may have information of fluorescent light emitted by a fluorescence substance in the body. 
     In addition, as the fluorescent light, fluorescent light obtained by irradiating the inside of the body with excitation light having a peak wavelength that is greater than or equal to 390 nm and is less than or equal to 470 nm may be used. 
     In a case where the medical image is an inside body image of an inside of a body, as the above-described particular wavelength range, a wavelength range of infrared light may be used. 
     In a case where the medical image is an inside body image of an inside of a body and the wavelength range of infrared light is used as the above-described particular wavelength range, the particular wavelength range preferably includes a wavelength range that is greater than or equal to 790 nm and is less than or equal to 820 nm, or is greater than or equal to 905 nm and is less than or equal to 970 nm, and the light of the particular wavelength range preferably has a peak wavelength in the wavelength range that is greater than or equal to 790 nm and is less than or equal to 820 nm, or is greater than or equal to 905 nm and is less than or equal to 970 nm. 
     The medical image acquiring unit  11  may include a special-light-image acquiring unit that acquires a special-light image having a signal in a particular wavelength range on the basis of the ordinary-light image obtained by radiating the light of the white range or by radiating light of a plurality of wavelength ranges as the light of the white range. In this case, the special-light image may be used as the medical image. 
     The signal in the particular wavelength range may be obtained through a calculation based on color information of RGB or CMY included in the ordinary-light image. 
     A feature-quantity-image generation unit may be included. The feature-quantity-image generation unit generates a feature-quantity image through a calculation based on at least one of the ordinary-light image that is obtained by radiating the light of the white range or light of a plurality of wavelength ranges as the light of the white range or the special-light image obtained by radiating the light of the particular wavelength range. In this case, the feature-quantity image may be used as the medical image. 
     Regarding the endoscope apparatus  21 , a capsule endoscope may be used as the endoscope  31 . In this case, the light source device  32  and part of the processor device  33  may be installed on the capsule endoscope. 
     In the above embodiment and modifications, a hardware structure of processing units that perform various kinds of processing, such as the medical image acquiring unit  11 , the medical image analysis processing unit  12 , each unit constituting the medical image analysis processing unit  12 , the display control unit  15 , the input receiving unit  16 , the general control unit  17 , the medical image acquiring unit  35 , the medical image analysis processing unit  36 , the display control unit  37 , the region-of-interest detecting unit  41 , and the display-manner determining unit  42  is any of the following various processors. Various processors include a central processing unit (CPU) and a graphical processing unit (GPU) that are general-purpose processors functioning as various processing units by executing software (programs), a programmable logic device (PLD) that is a processor in which the circuit configuration is changeable after manufacture, such as field programmable gate array (FPGA), a dedicated electric circuit that is a processor having a circuit configuration that is specially designed to execute various kinds of processing, and the like. 
     One processing unit may be constituted by one of these various processors, or may be constituted by two or more processors of the same type or different types in combination (e.g., a combination of a plurality of FPGAs, a combination of a CPU and an FPGA, or a combination of a CPU and a GPU). In addition, a plurality of processing units may be constituted by one processor. As a first example for constituting a plurality of processing units with one processor, one processor may be constituted by a combination of one or more CPUs and software, and this processor may function as a plurality of processing units, as typified by a computer such as a client or a server. As a second example, a processor may be used that implements the functions of the entire system including a plurality of processing units with one integrated circuit (IC) chip, as typified by a system on chip (SoC) or the like. In this manner, various processing units are constituted by one or more of the above various processors in terms of hardware structure. 
     More specifically, the hardware structure of these various processors is electric circuitry constituted by combining circuit elements such as semiconductor elements. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           10  medical image processing apparatus 
           11  medical image acquiring unit 
           12  medical image analysis processing unit 
           13  display unit 
           15  display control unit 
           16  input receiving unit 
           17  general control unit 
           18  storage unit 
           21  endoscope apparatus 
           22  picture archiving and communication system (PACS) 
           31  endoscope 
           32  light source device 
           33  processor device 
           34  display unit 
           35  medical image acquiring unit 
           36  medical image analysis processing unit 
           37  display control unit 
           41  region-of-interest detecting unit 
           42  display-manner determining unit 
           43  medical image 
           44  display screen 
           45  first region 
           46  second region 
           47  region of interest 
           48  bar 
           49  bar 
           50 ,  51  region 
           52  to  55  region 
           56  bar 
           610  diagnosis support apparatus 
           621  first examination apparatus 
           622  second examination apparatus 
           626  network 
           630  medical service support apparatus 
           633  examination apparatus