Fifteen patients with orbital neoplasms demonstrated by CT were studied with magnetic resonance (MR) using a 13 cm surface coil and a 0.6 T superconducting magnet. The use of a surface coil allowed for a reduction in slice thickness and a significant improvement in spatial resolution resulting in better demonstration and improved characterization of orbital lesions. All neoplasms (15/15) were demonstrated by MR. The lesions were grouped into four main categories on the basis of signal intensities on T1- and T2-weighted images. CT was superior to MR in displaying densely calcified or bony lesions (two of 15 cases). MR was at least equal or superior to CT in demonstrating the other lesions (13 of 15 cases) and had the added advantage of improved tissue characterization in some cases. With the use of surface coils, MR could become the primary imaging technique for evaluation of orbital neoplasms.