<正> Objective: To improve the qualitative diagnosis of peripheral nerve sheath tumors by computed tomography（CT）. Methods: CT findings of 64 cases of pathologically confirmed nerve sheath tumors were compared with thepathological findings of the tumors. Results: Low density of the tumors shown in plain CT images was related to domi-nating reticular structure in the tumor as found pathologically. Tumors with intact capsule found by pathological findingswere shown with smooth margin in CT images. Inhomogeneous density and enhancement of the tumors in CT images wasrelated to tumor necrosis

liquefaction and cystic degeneration

and inhomogeneous enhancement also involved the re-ticular structure. Conclusion: Nerve sheath tumors are characterized by distribution along the nerves

lower densitythan that of muscles in plain CT images

and inhomogeneous enhancement in enhanced CT

which can help differenti-ate nerve sheath tumors from other soft tissue tumors. When nerve sheath tumors lack distinctive CT features