Patent ID: 7564998

Claim:
An image processing apparatus for processing a radiation image of a subject obtained by utilizing radiation, and outputting a diagnostic image, comprising: first generation means for generating a first cross-sectional image of a first cross-section other than an axial cross-section of the subject from the radiation image; detection means for detecting a circular shape in the first cross-sectional image as a nodule; second generation means for generating a second cross-sectional image of a second cross-section other than the first cross-section of the subject from the radiation image, wherein the second cross-sectional image includes the nodule detected by said detection means; calculation means for calculating a circularity of the nodule in the second cross-sectional image as a feature amount, wherein the nodule is detected by said detection means and comprises a circular shape in the first cross-section; determination means for determining whether or not the nodule detected by said detection means is a diagnostic pathology on the basis of the feature amount calculated by said calculation means; and output means for outputting a diagnostic image including the nodule detected by said detection means on the basis of a determination result of said determination means.