To efficiently utilize a stimulable phosphor sheet in the so-called built-in type radiation image recording and reading device.

A 1st reference image signal G1 obtained from the stimulable phosphor sheet uniformly exposed with radiation is previously stored in a 1st memory 51. When a specified period elapses after starting using the device, a 2nd reference image signal G2 is obtained from the stimulable phosphor sheet uniformly exposed with the radiation again. A difference signal G3 between the 2nd and the 1st reference image signals G2 and G1 is obtained in a difference means 52, and stored in a 2nd memory 53. The signal G3 expresses noise caused by the scratch and the soiling of the sheet and the deterioration of a phosphor with the lapse of time. An image signal S0 is read from the stimulable phosphor sheet where the radiation image of a subject is recorded, and corrected according to the signal G3 in a correction means 54, and further image processing is performed in an image processing means 55 so as to obtain an already processed image signal S2.