1. A method for reducing image artifacts in image data acquired using a Computed Tomography (CT) imaging system, said method comprising: receiving, at a computer, the acquired image data regarding a scan of an object; reconstructing a plurality of images using the received data to form a three-dimensional image space; determining an orientation for a maximum intensity pixel operation; locating a maximum intensity pixel within a ray path in accordance with the determined orientation, wherein the maximum intensity pixel has adjacent pixels; determining adjacent pixels having an intensity within a predetermined value of an intensity of the maximum intensity pixel; filtering around the maximum intensity pixel along the ray path using the computer to exclude pixels other than the determined adjacent pixels having an intensity within the predetermined value of the intensity of the maximum intensity pixel; and determining an average intensity of the adjacent pixels within the predetermined range of the intensity of the maximum intensity pixel and the maximum intensity pixel.