Objective To investigate the imaging methods of multislice spiral CT (MSCT) of sternum and its diagnostic value in the sternum diseases.Methods 108 cases(100 cases in normal group and 8 cases in disorder group) underwent conventional chest volume scan and thin slice low contrast images reconstruction with 16-slice spiral CT.Then all the source images were processed using standard/curved multiplanar reconstruction(MPR), maximum intensity projection(MIP), surface shaded display (SSD) and volume rendering technique(VRT). All post-processed images were observed and analyzed by two radiologists. Results The sternums were clearly showed by the post-processed images.In displaying the structure of sternum, sagittal MPR was better than axial MPR (U=14.107, P=0.000) and coronal curve MPR was better than coronal MPR (U =11.882, P=0.000); in evaluating the shape of sternum , VRT was better than the imaging modes of MIP, SSD(UVRT:MIP =13.553, UVRT:SSD=12.102, P=0.000). Among 8 patients with sternum diseases, 5 cases of sternum fracture and 3 cases of sternum metastasis tumor were found. Conclusion Coronal curve MPR, sagittal MPR and VRT are the best imaging methods of MSCT to show sternum and they are markedly superior to conventional X-ray images and axial CT images in evaluating the sternum diseases.