Flow-sensitive 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging at 3 T and advanced 3-dimensional visualization were used to visualize local and global vascular hemodynamics in the thoracic aorta. In patients with pathological geometric alterations of the thoracic aorta, this technique revealed considerable changes in local blood flow characteristics, compared with normal volunteers. Specifically, relatively small geometric changes, such as a partially thrombosed aortic arch or a mild aneurysm of the ascending aorta, resulted in major disturbances of local blood flow patterns within and even further downstream to the pathology.