Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS)is a complex three-dimensional spinal deformity,characterized by lateral curvature and vertebral rotation.The medical imaging techniques are essential for determination of severity of scoliotic spine, prediction of progression and assistance in the decision-making process of treatment for scoliosis, including radiograph, stereoradiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound.This paper reviewed their application from the view of measure parameters,reliability and va-lidity,as well as merits and demerits.It is possible to assess the three-dimensional nature of scoliosis in the future.