A medical image is reproduced after being subjected to image processing appropriate for conversion into an image suitable for interpreting. Selection of a imaging menu item from a imaging menu being displayed is accepted, and the medical image is reproduced after being subjected to the image processing for converting the image into the image appropriate for the reproduction according to the selected imaging menu item. At this time, an index value representing an anatomical characteristic is calculated from the medical image, and the most appropriate imaging menu item to be selected from imaging menu items is judged based on the index value.