A practical MRI strategy for the investigation of pelvic pain in patients with suspected recurrent lymphoma is described and illustrated in five patients. A T1-weighted sagittal examination of the lumbo-sacral spine is used to examine the vertebral bone marrow, spinal canal, exit foraminae and para-aortic lymph nodes. T2-weighted and balanced images are obtained in the axial plane through the pelvis. The balanced images give an excellent demonstration of pelvic lymph nodes and the T2-weighted images are sensitive to the presence of abnormal soft tissue masses and marrow disease.