Objective To explore the CT and MRI findings of the cervical chordoma and its differential diagnosis for imporving the diagnostic accuracy of this disease. Methods Clinical data and imaging findings in 12 patients (7 males, 5 females) with cervical chordoma confirmed by operation and pathologic examination were retrospectively analysed. The size, shape, density, signal, boundary, strengthen and the changes of the adjacent structure of the mass were observed. Results Total of 11 cases infringed the single bone, and only one case infringed the multiple bones. The cervical chordomamainly showed an ill-defined platelike soluble bone destruction or mixed bone changes. The bone cortex of some cases were discontinuous or interrupted. Thecervical chordoma showed equal or low density on CT images with punctiform or platelike high-density calcification in different sizes, and showed heterogeneous equal or low T1 and long or equal T2 signal on MRI images with honeycomb changes which showed long strips of fiber separation with low signal. The tumor mainly showed heterogeneous enhancement after the administration of Gd-DTPA. Conclusions The cervical chordoma has certain imaging characteristics, and theearly diagnostic will be helpful for the preoperative localization and evaluating the postoperative extent.