A method is provided for identifying a location of a region of interest in a volumetric image scan that includes a plurality of slices of an object and wherein each slice, in turn, includes a plurality of pixels. The method includes setting a predetermined pixel intensity threshold corresponding to a particular region of interest; identifying target pixels for each slice from the plurality of pixels that exceed the predetermined pixel intensity threshold; creating an energy profile from the target pixels for each slice; and comparing the energy profile to a predefined energy profile to determine the location of the region of interest.