An image processing apparatus and method which displays MPR images at a
plurality of image displaying areas including full image displaying areas
and at least one evacuating image displaying area. When the number of MPR
images exceeds the number of image displaying areas, the MPR images are
sorted into images for construction and images for evacuation based on a
priority order of display conditions. The MPR images may be reduced in
size to arrange more than one evacuated image in an evacuating image
displaying area.