METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING MASS ANALYSIS DATA

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To present image information in which distribution or the like of portions having a specific function and action especially in a biological sample can be accurately and easily grasped based on data obtained by imaging mass analysis.SOLUTION: The intensity of mass spectral data obtained in each fine area (pixel) on a sample is regulated in each pixel so that the sum of intensities over the whole m/z range becomes "1" at first (S3), and entropy is calculated by adding products of the logarithms of the regulated intensities and the intensities in each m/z over the whole m/z range (S4). After similarly finding out entropy values in all pixels, each pixel is colored in accordance with the entropy value and a two-dimensional color image expressing the distribution of entropy values is created and displayed (S7). Since imbalance of substances existing in a cancerous portion in an organism is observed and a component ratio of substances is simplified as compared with normal portions, the entropy value is reduced. Thereby the cancerous portion can be discriminated from the normal portions on an entropy image.