A method, image processing system and computer program product are provided for detecting an anatomical marker within an image study. In the context of a method, data elements associated with image slices of the image study of a patient are accessed. The data elements are representative of one or more characteristics of the image slices, but do not include picture elements that comprise the image slices. The method also includes reviewing the data elements associated with at least some image slices of the image study of the patient. The method further includes detecting the anatomical marker within the image study based upon a review of the data elements and identifying a subset of the image slices of the image study based upon the anatomical marker or a distance from the anatomical marker.