A method and apparatus for carrying out tomographic image processing that
enables lung areas and a mediastinum in a chest tomographic image to be
reproduced in one image with appropriate contrast is provided. Image data
representing a chest tomographic image are obtained by using a tomography
apparatus. Normalization means in a tomographic image processing
apparatus normalizes the image data and obtains normalized image data.
Compression processing means carries out dynamic range compression
processing on the normalized image data to compress a high density range
thereof. The image data after the compression processing are subjected to
frequency enhancing processing, and the image data after the frequency
enhancing processing are then subjected to tone conversion processing.
The processed image data obtained in the above manner are reproduced by a
reproduction apparatus.