A method for processing angiography image data by using an imaging catheter path that is directly detected from the angiography data as a co-registration path or using detected marker locations from the angiography data to generate a co-registration path. If the acquired angiography data includes synchronized cardiac phase signals and a predetermined quantity of angiography image frames not including contrast media, then a directly detected imaging catheter path is used as the co-registration path. Otherwise the co-registration path is determined based upon detected marker locations from the angiography image data.
