When a diseased aorta is to be imaged, the clinical picture and the urgency determine which of the various procedures available is or are used. One of the more recent techniques applied is conventional MR -imaging, and especially contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA), which is a noninvasive technique and allows for the combination of conventional imaging, acquisition of physiological parameters and 3D-angiography. In this article technical and clinical aspects of the use of CE-MRA in different diseases affecting the aorta are discussed. Topics covered include congenital malformations of the aorta, acquired disease, and inflammatory conditions.