System and Method for Detecting Landmarks in a Three-Dimensional Image Volume

A method and apparatus for detecting vascular landmarks in a 3D image volume, such as a CT volume, is disclosed. One or more guide slices are detected in a 3D image volume. A set of landmark candidates for multiple target vascular landmarks are then detected based on the guide slices. A node potential value for each landmark candidate is generated based on an error value determined using spatial histogram-based error regression, and edge potential values for pairs of landmark candidates are generated based on a bifurcation analysis of the image volume using vessel tracing. The optimal landmark candidate for each target landmark is then determined using a Markov random field model based on the node potential values and the edge potential values.