A system and method for performing a virtual endoscopy is provided. The
method comprises the steps of: calculating a distance map using
three-dimensional (3D) data of a lumen; calculating a multiplanar
reconstruction (MPR) of the lumen, wherein the MPR is calculated
orthogonal to the lumen at an endoscope position; performing a first
region growing on the MPR of the lumen at the endoscope position, wherein
data associated with the first region is marked; calculating a minimum
distance and a maximum distance from the marked data of the first region
growing using corresponding distances from the distance map; performing a
second region growing on the MPR of the lumen for data outside the first
region growing, wherein data associated with the second region is marked;
and performing a 3D rendering of the marked data associated with the
first region growing and the second region growing.