1. A method for automatically analyzing inflammation of a joint, comprising the steps of: with a magnetic resonance data acquisition apparatus, generating a three-dimensional magnetic resonance image data set of a predetermined region within a patient, said predetermined region containing at least a portion of a joint of the patient; designating a position for each of a predetermined plurality of different layers within said predetermined region; in a processor, from said three-dimensional magnetic resonance image data set, generating a two-dimensional magnetic resonance image for each of said different layers; and for each of said different layers represented in the respective two-dimensional magnetic resonance images, automatically determining, in said processor, a thickness of a predetermined tissue therein and automatically analyzing a degree of inflammation in said joint dependent on the respective thicknesses of the predetermined tissue in the respective different layers, and making an analysis result, representing said degree of inflammation, available at an output of said processor.