A medical system (10) and method (100) image a vessel wall automatically. A scout scan of a patient for localizing a target vessel of the patient is automatically performed (102) using magnetic resonance (MR). The scout scan is three-dimensional (3D) and isotropic. An MR data set of the scout scan is automatically reconstructed (104) into foot-to-head (FH), left-to-right (LR) and posterior-to-anterior (PA) projections. A3D imaging volume (16) encompassing the target vessel is automatically determined (106) from the projections, and a diagnostic scan of the 3D imaging volume (16) is performed (108) using MR.