1. A method for enhancing an image, comprising the steps of: constructing an input histogram corresponding to the image, the input histogram representing a pixel intensity distribution corresponding to the image; determining an offset bin and a threshold bin in the input histogram; calculating a clipping start bin based upon the offset bin and the threshold bin, the clipping start bin and the threshold bin being at different locations in the input histogram; establishing a variable plateau profile to be applied to the input histogram; selectively identifying a plurality of bins of the input histogram to be clipped using the variable plateau profile; clipping the plurality of bins of the input histogram at the variable plateau profile and between the calculated clipping start bin and the threshold bin to produce a clipped input histogram; constructing a cumulative histogram from the clipped input histogram; normalizing the cumulative histogram to produce a normalized cumulative histogram; and transforming the image using the normalized cumulative histogram to produce an enhanced output image corresponding to the input image, wherein at least a portion of the input image is enhanced in the output image.