To evaluate the efficacy of STIR (short tau inversion recovery) image in the diagnosis of orbital diseases, we compared the STIR images with conventional SE(spin- echo) images in 17 patients. The fat signal was reliably nulled at inversion timle of approximately 160-170 masec in all cases. We analyzed all the cases in the aspects of the detection of lesion and the lesion-to-back around contrast retrospectively. Regarding lesion, the detection rates of STIR, T1 and T2-weighted images were 89,88 and 83% respectively. In the aspect of lesion-to -background contrast, the contrast ratios of STIR and T1, T2-weighted image were 87% and 64,56% respectively. In conclusion, STIR images were similar to T1- and T2-weighted images in the detection of lesion, but superior in the aspect of lesion-to-background contrast. So the STIR images may be a useful adjunct to conventional SE images for the diagnosis of orbital disease.