System for the detection and display of metal obscured regions in cone beam ct

A method for processing volume image data of a subject, the method executed at least in part on a computer, comprising:

• scanning a subject to obtain a plurality of 2D radiographic images of the subject on an radiographic detector, where the 2D radiographic images are obtained with the radiographic detector and a radiation source at a different scan angle relative to the subject;
• reconstructing the plurality of 2D radiographic images into a 3D volume image reconstruction;
• identifying metal obstructed regions in the 3D volume image reconstruction;
• alternately displaying each of the one or more metal obstructed regions by a limited angle technique using a limited subset of the plurality of 2D radiographic images, where each alternately displayed metal obstructed regions is a single projection image, several projection images or a limited angle tomosynthesis reconstruction;
• and
• displaying, storing, or transmitting the 3D volume image reconstruction, at least one of the alternately displayed metal obstructed regions, and an indication of the spatial relationship therebetween.