1. A method implemented on a machine having at least one processor, storage, and a communication platform, comprising: computing, by an image reading platform implemented on the at least one processor, a topographic image including a plurality of topographic sketches in a plurality of directions of an image, determining, by the image reading platform, a plurality of ridge lines and valley lines in the topographic image; locating, by the image reading platform, a region in the topographic image containing one or more crossing points of the plurality of determined ridge lines that are surrounded and/or separated by the plurality of determined valley lines; identifying, by the image reading platform, the located region as a nodule candidate when a geometric feature associated with the located region satisfies a certain condition; and performing, if one or more candidates are identified in the image, analysis to affirm or disaffirm the existence of the nodule of the pre-determined type with respect to each of the identified candidates based on information associated with the image.