Abstract: The diagnosis of intrathoracic meningocele, lying primarily in the paravertebral gutter and radiologically resembling a neurofibroma, has been said to be easy if the existence of the con- dition is previously considered.In view of the rarity of the condition, however, it is understand- able that in many of the cases described the diagnosis has been made unexpectedly at operation or necropsy.Apart from a mention by Groedel (1936) in a textbook of radiological diagnosis, intrathoracic meningocele has not found a place in any major works of radiology or thoracic disease.An extensive study of hourglass tumours by Heuer (1929) and that by Schmorl and Junghanns (1932) describe only solid intrathoracic tumours.A wide review of the literature upon spina bifida by Ingraham and others (1944) like- wise did not include thoracic meningocele.Twenty-six cases have received mention in the world literature, not all of them fully documented.Two further cases are now presented, one being of particular interest, having been discovered at about the time Pohl (1933) first described the con- dition.CASE REPORTS CASE 1.-H.B., a healthy male postal superintendent, aged 39, was found to have a neurofibroma-like shadow in the right hemithorax at mass miniature radiography.He was entirely asymptomatic.He had never had a chest radiograph before this.There was no relevant previous medical history.The patient was admitted to the Thoracic Surgical Unit, Warwick.on December 1, 1954.There was no evidence of von Recklinghausen's disease superficially, nor of cafe-au-lait spots on the skin.Skeletal development was normal.There was no family history of cutaneous neurofibromatosis or of congenital bony deformity.There was no history of severe trauma.Physical signs were normal in the chest and abdomen.A full neurological examination was carried out and no abnormalities shown.The patient denied any pains or any recurrent chest infections.A radio- graph of the chest (Fig. I) showed a fairly well- defined, apparently solid opacity in relation to the eighth and ninth vertebral bodies in the right hemi- thorax.A lateral film showed enlargement of the