PURPOSE: To improve operating efficiency by referring to a previous file image easily by detecting a medical picture corresponding to specified input information and temporarily storing this picture after reading-in it, and outputting the stored medical picture to other devices.

CONSTITUTION: The information(specified input information) such as the kind, photographing part and photographing condition of a used modality 10, for a patient, is inputted from input devices 11 and 12(other devices) at a photographing information desk in a hospital. A detecting means 3 detects the previous file image of the patient, corresponding to this input information, based on the above-mentioned information. Then, a reading-in means 4 reads-in this detected previous file image, storing means 5 stores temporarily this read-in previous file image, and outputting means 6 outputs this stored previous file image to a photograph reading console 11, hard copy device 12, etc. (other devices) Therefore, an operator can easily refer to the previous file image from the photograph reading console 11, hard copy device 12, etc. Thus, the previous filing image can be easily referred to, and the operating efficiency can be improved.