OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evalute characteristic CT and/or MR imaging findings of varioushard palatal tumors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients(M:12, F:3, mean age:54 years) with a hard palataltumor were included in this study. In all cases, diagnostic images were obtained(CT only : 10, MRI only: 2, CT andMRI:3), and in all patients the condition was pathologically proven. To determine tumor location and bony change,each imaging finding was retrospectively reviewed. RESULT: Among the 15 patients, tumor of a minor salivary glandwas most common(n=9), followed by squamous cell carcinoma(n=4). In nine cases, the tomor was located at thepalatal shelves, and in six, at the alveolar process-palatal angle. The pattern of bony change was destructive inseven cases, erosive in six, and infiltrative in two. In all cases, adenoid cystic carcinoma and meta statictumor, including squamous cell carcinoma, involved the palatal shelves and presented as destructive orinfiltrative bony change. pleomorphic adenoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma arose at the alveolar process-palatalangle and posterolateral portion of the hard palate and in all cases presented as erosive bony change. CONCLUSION: The characteristic features of location and bony change are useful for the evaluation and differentiation ofhard palatal tumors.