1. A method to image vessels, the method comprising: accessing a carotid vessel volume in an image; segmenting hierarchically the carotid vessel volume in the image into a plurality of classes each class having a plurality of objects; classifying each of the plurality of objects in the plurality of classes into a plurality of types in reference to data and/or acquisition parameters; segmenting objects of least one of a plurality of types using an iterative adaptive process; and quantifying plaque in the carotid vessel volume.