Differential diagnosis of vertebral lesion by simple radiography is not so easy whether the lesion is benign or malignant. The purpose of this study is to evaluate that the magnetic resonance imaging characteristics can differentiate benign or malignant vertebral lesions. In this study, thirty-nine cases of signal change within the vertebral body by MRI was reviewed retrospectively and the followings are the summary of the results. It is difficult to differenciate benign or malignant lesions, only based on MRI signal changes or vertebral lesion patterns. But those cases of pedicle involvement, complete replacement of bone marrow in T1image and associated soft tissue mass or cord compression are strongly suggest the possibility of malignancy and need further study.