the embodiments relate to an angiographic examination method for generating a 2d projection image . the method includes : acquiring a volume dataset , reconstructing a 3d volume from the volume dataset , forward - projecting for generating a virtual vessel projection , deriving a binary vessel mask , acquiring at least one current 2d projection image , combining the binary vessel mask with the at least one current 2d projection image to form a current mask , thresholding the current mask to form a current binary mask , back - projecting the current binary mask into the 3d volume to form a mask volume , threshold value segmenting the mask volume in order to generate a final virtual vessel volume , and subtracting a projection of the vessel volume from the current 2d projection images to generate a selective , overlay - free visualization of the body region of interest by selectable parameters .