Enhanced image data is stored, and medical image data contained in the enhanced image data and a screen for creating an interpretation report are displayed on a monitor. In response to a linking operation, link data containing image specification information specifying medical image data to link in the enhanced image data is generated and included into data of the interpretation report. In response to an operation of requesting linked medical image, based on the link data, medical image data indicated by the image specification information within the enhanced image data is specified from the enhanced image data, and the specified medical image data is outputted to a requesting destination of the linked medical image. Thus, a link can be set to medical image data that is one data element within enhanced image data, and only a linked data row can be extracted and read from the enhanced image data.