Objective To explore the diagnostic value of MRE for differentiating hepatic benign and malignant tumors.Methods 36 patients with liver tumor (a total of 39 lesions,including 20 hepatocellular carcinomas,7 hemangiomas,5 cholangiocellular carcinomas,3 metastases,2 hepatic angiomyolipomas,1 carcinosarcoma,1 castleman’s disease)and 9 healthy volunteers were evaluated with MRE.The elastogram were generated with FUNCTOOL post processing program.The mean value of elasticity of hepatic malignant tumors,hepatic benign tumors,hepatic parenchyma around the malignant tumors,hepatic parenchyma around the benign tumors and the normal liver of healthy volunteers were measured and compared.Results The mean value of elasticity of malignant tumors [(7.39±1.70)kPa]was significantly higher than these of benign tumors [(4.11±0.37)kPa,P < 0.001],peripheral parenchyma around the malignant tumors [(3.50±0.73)kPa,P < 0.001],peripheral parenchyma around the benign tumors [(2.61±0.45)kPa,P < 0.001] and normal liver of healthy volunteers [(2.38±0.24)kPa,P <0.001].The mean value of elasticity of parenchyma around the malignant tumors [(3.50±0.73)kPa]was significantly higher than that of hepatic parenchyma around the benign tumors [(2.61 ± 0.45)kPa,P <0.001].The mean value of elasticity of hepatic parenchyma around the benign tumors [(2.61±0.45)kPa]was slightly higher than normal liver of healthy volunteers [(2.38±0.24)kPa],and there was no significant difference between the two (P >0.05).A cutoff value of 5.08 kPa can accurately differentiate malignant tumors from benign tumors and normal liver parenchyma.Conclusion MRE could be used in diagnosis of hepatic focal tumors,which is helpful for differentiating benign and malignant liver tumors.