1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a computer control the computer to perform a method for characterizing a nodule in a region of tissue, the method comprising: accessing an image of a region of tissue demonstrating cancerous pathology; segmenting a lung region from surrounding anatomy in the region of tissue; segmenting a nodule from the lung region by defining a nodule boundary; defining a perinodular zone in the image based, at least in part, on the nodule boundary; generating a three dimensional (3D) segmented vasculature by segmenting a vessel from the perinodular zone; identifying a center line of the 3D segmented vasculature; extracting a set of perinodular tortuosity features based, at least in part, on the center line; computing a probability that the nodule is benign based, at least in part, on the set of perinodular tortuosity features; and controlling a computer aided diagnosis (CADx) system to generate a classification of the nodule based, at least in part, on the set of perinodular tortuosity features, or the probability.