1. A method for identifying a distinctive region in a medical image data set for a patient, comprising: applying a first classifier to a medical image data set, the first classifier having a sensitivity configured to identify a first subset of the medical image data set with one or more characteristics similar to a first specified distinctive region; passing the identified first subset to a second classifier; applying the second classifier to the first subset, the second classifier having a specificity configured to confirm the presence, or absence, of the first specified distinctive region within one or more portions of the first subset, wherein the first specified distinctive region is selected from an occlusive plaque region and a vulnerable plaque region; and displaying a medical image based on the medical image data set and showing one or more first specified distinctive regions as identified by the first and second classifiers.