Objective According to the imaging findings and its related clinical and pathologic characters of synovial sarcoma (SS), to explore the diagnostic value of the CT and MRI. Methods The Clinical and imaging data of 22 SS confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed. Results Most of the SS located in the deep soft tissue near the extremities and joints, showing "drilling or encircling -like" growth trend. They were generally round, oval or lobulated in shape and well-defined. The tumors were generally larger, the maximum diameter of the 22 cases was 3.1cm-13.4cm and the average was 7.1cm. The density or signal was heterogeneous as the tumors were often with necrosis or cystic areas and hemorrhage. On CT, most lesions appeared soft-tissue mass with attenuation similar to or slightly lower than that of muscle, 6 cases with the necrosis aera and 2 cases with calcification inside it. On T1WI of the MRI, the solid part of the tumors usually presented iso- or hypo-intense. 5 cases showed patch hyperintense area, which suggested the hemorrhage. On T2WI, the signal was heterogeneous, some cases with hypointense septa among the lesions. The tumors were obviously high signal in the fat suppression sequence. 3 cases appeared destruction of the adjacent bone. After contrast, the performance of CT and MRI was similar, most of the tumors showed obviously heterogeneous enhancement. Conclusion SS has some special imaging manifestation, combining CT and MRI can improve the diagnostic accuracy of SS, however, pathology is still mandatory to confirm the diagnosis.