Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a method for evaluating medical image data of an examination subject, as well as an evaluation computer, a medical imaging apparatus and a non-transitory data storage medium for implementing such a method.
Description of the Prior Art
Typically, medical image data are recorded by medical imaging systems and can represent anatomical structures and/or functional processes of the body of an examination subject. An approach for evaluating the medical image data is known in which the medical image data acquired from the examination subject are compared with reference image data of the same examination subject in a healthy state, i.e. in particular in a state prior to the onset of disease symptoms. However, the presence of the reference image data is necessary for this approach, and such data are not available in most cases.
A further possibility for evaluating the medical image data is known that can be implemented independently of the presence of reference image data. The medical image data acquired from the examination subject are evaluated by semiautomatic or automatic analysis tools. This enables a value of a physiological parameter to be determined on the basis of the medical image data acquired from the examination subject. The thus determined value of the physiological parameter can be compared with a normal value range. In this case the normal value range typically indicates percentiles within which the value of the physiological parameter can be considered normal or non-suspect. A value of the physiological parameter outside of the normal value range, on the other hand, can point to a suspect situation or to the presence of a disease in the examination subject.