PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain simplification and high accuracy of postprocessing in rheumatism inspection using a contrast MRI.SOLUTION: In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus having an imaging means for imaging a desired area in an object to be inspected arranged in a still magnetic field by nuclear magnetic resonance and a postprocessing means for postprocessing the imaging result by the imaging means, the imaging means obtains images including a predetermined area of interest before and after injecting contrast agent. The postprocessing means has: a first area-of-interest extracting means for extracting the area of interest as the first area of interest on the image before contrasting obtained before injecting the contrast agent a candidate area extracting means for extracting a candidate area of the area of interest on the image after contrasting obtained after injecting the contrast agent and a second area-of-interest extracting means for extracting the area of interest on the image after contrasting as a second area of interest using the first area of interest and the candidate area.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】造影MRIを用いたリウマチ検査に関して、後処理の簡便化と高精度化を実現する。【解決手段】静磁場内に配置される検査対象の所望の領域を核磁気共鳴により撮像する撮像手段と、撮像手段による撮像結果に後処理を施す後処理手段とを備える磁気共鳴イメージング装置であって、前記撮像手段は、前記造影剤の注入前と注入後とに、それぞれ、予め定めた関心領域を含む画像を取得し、前記後処理手段は、前記造影剤注入前に取得した造影前画像上で、前記関心領域を第一関心領域として抽出する第一関心領域抽出手段と、前記造影剤注入後に取得した造影後画像上で、前記関心領域の候補領域を抽出する候補領域抽出手段と、前記第一関心領域と前記候補領域とを用い、前記造影後画像上の前記関心領域を第二関心領域として抽出する第二関心領域抽出手段とを備えることを特徴とする磁気共鳴イメージング装置を提供する。【選択図】図2
