1. A method comprising: obtaining color images of the cervix wherein said image contains color components, atypical vessels, and features unrelated to atypical vessels; pre-processing to enhance contrast of said images to increase visualization of blood vessels from surrounding tissue creating a red component enhanced image and a contrast enhanced red component image; segmenting said red component enhanced image and said contrast enhanced red component image to identify regions of interest; post-processing to eliminate false-positives of atypical vessels and determine a final region of interest from said regions of interest; and whereby said method detects said atypical blood vessels in digital images of tissue or organs for cancer diagnosis.