1. A method for automated contrast arrival detection in temporally phased images or datasets of tissues comprising: (a) identifying a plurality of tissue voxels in a plurality of temporally phased images as a function of voxel enhancement characteristics associated with discrete tissue voxels; (b) computing with a processor average enhancement characteristics from the plurality of identified tissue voxels; (c) comparing the average enhancement characteristics with predetermined average enhancement characteristics associated with contrast media arrival phases by operations including eliminating a current dynamic phase from consideration as the contrast arrival phase if the average signal intensity of the current dynamic phase exceeds at least one average signal intensity of a later dynamic phase relative to the current dynamic phase; and (d) identifying contrast media arrival phases in the temporally phased images based on the comparing.