Objective To investigate the MRI characteristics of pure spinal epidural cavernous hemangiomas (PSECHs). Methods Clinical data and MRI signs of 8 patients with PSECHs confirmed by surgical pathology were retrospectively analyzed. Results Among the 8 patients, 2 with PSECHs in the cervicothoracic segments, 3 in the thoracic segments, 2 in the thoracolumbar segments, and 1 in the lumbar segments. Additionally, PSECHs occurred in the dorsal part of the dural sac in 7 patients, and in the right side of the dural sac in 1 patient. Moreover, PSECHs presented spindle morphology in 6 patients and nodular shape in 2 patients. The lesions showed isointensity or slightly low signal intensity on T1WI, and presented high or inhomogeneous high signal intensity on T2WI; enhancement scanning of the lesions demonstrated homogeneous enhancement and inhomogeneous ring-like enhancement. Furthermore, spotted short T1 and slightly long T2 fat signal shadows were detected in the lesions of 2 patients. PSECHs of 2 patients were accompanied with hematoma formation, showing short T1 and short T2 signals. Obvious compression on the spinal cord was found in 6 patients, and lesions on the axial T1WI presented a "pincer-like structure" wrapping around the spinal cord. Conclusion Although PSECHs are rare tumor-like lesions, they can be accurately diagnosed according to the location, morphology, signal intensity and enhancement characteristics of lesions combined with clinical data.