Objective To investigate the proper management of spinal subpial lipoma with-out dysraphisms. A new subset classification method was proposed for individual handling protocols.Methods We retrospectively reviewed five cases of patients diagnosed with subpial lipomas who received sur-gical treatment in Department of Neurosurgery，Beijing Jishuitan Hospital between January 2013 and December 2014. The patients’clinical histories and medical records were carefully examined，and radiological charac-teristics were periodically retrieved after surgery. The outcomes of these patients were also reviewed. The fivepatients were grouped into 2 groups based on MRI characteristics：simple type and invasive type. Results All five patients had mild to moderate neurological impairment and underwent surgical treatment. In two patients of simple type，one was underwent total removal while the other underwent partial removal. And three patients of invasive type all underwent partial removal. Tumor resection was confirmed in postoperative MRI. All patientswere confirmed as lipoma by pathology. Patients of different types showed different imaging features and neuro-logical recovery. Patients of simple type were complicated with syringomyelia and were easy to probe intraoperative tumor border. Patients of invasive type had tumor with nerve tissue passing through and easy to be damaged duringexcision which could be comfirmed in postoperative pathology. All patients showed temporary neurological impairment after surgery. But patients of simple type had better prognosis and could return to preoperative neurological function in two years. Conclusions The classification of simple and invasive type may be helpful in understanding spinal subpial lipoma without dysraphisms. The boundary between tumor and spinal cord could be generaly found inpatients of simple type，so the tumor may be completely removed. But invasive tumors are invasive growth. Any attempt to remove the tumor may lead to further damage to the spinal cord function. Decompression surgery may be the best choice for invasive tumors.