MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, X-RAY CT APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD

A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes storage circuitry, image data processing circuitry, and association circuitry. The storage circuitry stores therein pieces of image data on a subject obtained at a plurality of time phases from a medical image diagnostic apparatus. The image data processing circuitry calculates an index value obtained by comparing a pixel value of image data of a reference time phase among the pieces of image data of the time phases and a pixel value of each of the pieces of image data of the time phases. The association circuitry selects at least one of the pieces of image data of the time phases based on the index value calculated for each of the time phases and associates the one piece of image data with a breathing time phase in at least one of inspiration and expiration of the subject.