Objective To study the MRI features of intracranial solitary fibrous tumor (ISFT). Methods MRI features of 8 patients with ISFT treated between December 2010 and December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed and relavent literatures about its neuroimaging were reviewed. Results All the 8 cases were single solitary fibrous tumor (SFT), among which 4 arose from and beneath the tentorium, 2 in the left cerebellopontine angle, 1 in jugular foramen region and 1 in saddle area. All tumors had clear boundary, 3 were oval or round, 2 were irregular-shaped, 2 were lobulated and 1 was dumb-bell shaped. Tumor size ranged from 35 to 65 mm. On pre-contrast MRI, 5 cases were mixed with hypo to hyperintense signals on (T1 weighted image) T1WI and heterogeneous on (T2 weighted image) T2WI. The rest 3 cases were featured by solid and cystic components; the solid component was hypo to isotense on T1WI and hypointense on T2WI while the cystic areas, which were not enhanced in the postcontrast images, were hypo and hyperintense on T1WI and T2WI, respectively. All the areas with low T2 signal intensity were strongly enhanced after gadolinium administration. Flow-empty actions, peritumoral edema and “dural tail” sign was found in 6, 3 and 0 cases, respectively. All the 3 cystic cases were confirmed as malignant ISFT while the rest 5 were benign. Conclusions MRI manifestation of ISFT has some characteristics. There may exist some correlations between the intratumoral cyst and malignant potential. However, the diagnosis of ISFT remains dependent on histopathology.