Since the results of surgical treatment are better inmildly affected patients than in severely affectedpatients, the diagnosis of cervical spondyloticmyelopathy must be made as early as possible and withhighly sensitive tools. Diffusion‐weighted imaging in patients withcervical myelopathy revealed an increase in waterdiffusion and changes in diffusion direction. Given thehigh sensitivity and high negative predictive value ofdiffusion‐weighted imaging, this technique mayfacilitate decision making and make adequate treatmentpossible, especially for patients in whomclinical examination reveals discrete symptoms.