To evaluate MR findings of soft tissue masses in extremities and to find the helpful findings of distinguish benignity from malignancy, 28 soft tissue masses (22 benign and 6 malignant) in extremities were reviewed. T1-weighted, proton density, T2- weighted and Gd-DTPA enhanced images were obtained. MR images allowed a specific diagnosis in a large number of benign masses, such as hemangioma (8/9), lipoma (2/2), angiolipoma (1/1), epidermoid cyst (2/2), myositis ossificans (1/1), synovial chondromatosis (1/1) and pigmented villonodular synovitis (1/2) Specific diagnosis was difficult in the rest of the masses including malignancy. However, inhomogeneous signal intensities with necrosis and inhomogeneous enhancement may suggest malignant masses.