Two cases of large asymptomatic cysts of the lateral ventricle are presented. The cyst walls or cyst contours were demonstrated well by proton density-weighted or T2-weighted spin echo images. These cysts are being detected as incidental findings in increasing frequency with the increasing use of MR imaging. Our data and review of the literature suggest that surgical intervention is not necessarily warranted, but that careful clinical evaluation is indicated. The diagnostic problem of intraventricular cysts is also discussed.