The present invention is intended to improve image quality ensured by a
conventional (axial) scan, a cine scan, or a helical scan performed by an
X-ray CT apparatus including a two-dimensional area X-ray detector that
has a matrix structure. In helical scan image reconstruction based in
three-dimensional image reconstruction performed in an X-ray CT apparatus
including a two-dimensional area X-ray detector that is represented by a
multi-array X-ray detector or a flat-panel X-ray detector and that has a
matrix structure, an image expressing a slice thickness larger than the
width of one detector array included in a multi-array X-ray detector is
reconstructed according to either of a method of convoluting a
z-direction filter to projection data items in the direction of detector
arrays (z direction) and a method of convoluting a filer to a tomographic
image space in the z direction. The two methods are optimized in terms of
a calculation time and tomographic image quality. Consequently, a
tomographic image can be quickly reconstructed with high quality.