A method of segmenting tubular structures in digital images comprises providing a digitized image, selecting a point within an object for segmenting in the image, defining an initial state of the selected point in the object, performing an initial segmentation of a 2D cross section of the object based on the initial state, predicting a new state of said object about a new point that is a translation of said selected point along the object tangent, correcting said new state prediction based on a measurement of said new point in said image, and segmenting a 2D cross section of said object based on said new state.