The　complicate　calculation　and　frequent　comparison　based　on　spatial　orientation　tree　(SOT)　structure　in　SPIHT　severely　reduce　the　coding　speed.　To　overcome　these　shortcomings,　a　modified　image　compression　algorithm　is　proposed　without　SOT.　The　algorithm　sorts　the　wavelet　coefficients　in　descending　order　to　eliminate　the　correlation　among　wavelet　coefficients　and　obtain　a　one-dimensional　coordinate　list　corresponding　to　the　sorted　wavelet　coefficients.　This　algorithm　stops　the　sorting　pass　immediately　when　a　wavelet　coefficient　from　the　sorted　coordinate　list　is　not　significant　in　a　bit　plane,　which　simplifies　the　process　of　scanning.　Experimental　results　show　that　the　proposed　algorithm　drastically　improves　the　coding　speed.