Objective To evaluate the usefulness and specificity of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis of intracranial epidermoid Methods Fifteen patients with surgically proved intracranial epidermoids were evaluated with T 1 , T 2 weighted imaging, proton density weighted imaging and fast fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences followed by echo planar DWI Results DWI depicted all tumors ( n =15) as strong hyperintensity relative to CSF and brain tissues DWI was also sensitive in assessing small residual foci ( n =4) and recurrence of tumor ( n =3) Conclusion DWI is highly sensitive and specific in demonstrating epidermoids, and also in postoperatively assessing small residual foci and recurrence of tumors