A method for detecting target objects in a three dimensional (3D) image volume of an anatomical structure is disclosed. A set of candidate locations in the image volume are obtained. For each candidate location, sub-volumes of at least two different scales are cropped out. Each sub-volume comprises a plurality of voxels. For each of the sub-volumes, each sub-volume is rotated in at least two different orientations. A shape classifier is applied to each sub-volume. If the voxels in the sub-volume pass the shape classifier, a gradient direction is computed for the voxels. If the gradient direction for the voxels is one of a predefined orientation, a probability classifier is applied to the voxels. A probability measure computed by the probability classifier as a confidence measure is used for the sub-volume. If the confidence measure is above a predetermined threshold value, the sub-volume is determined to contain the target object.