Objective To discuss the clinical value of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in the brain vascular malformations. Methods Imaging data of 34 patients with brain vascular malformations proved by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) or pathology obtained on Siemens Sonata 1.5T MR system were studied prospectively, and compared with those of conventional MRI (cMRI) and SWI. Results All 41 lesions of 34 patients with brain vascular malformations showed clearly by SWI. These patients were diagnosed by surgical findings or DSA. These nidus comprised 19 cavernous angiomas, 9 arteriovenous malformations and 6 cerebral venous malformations. Conclusion SWI should be used for clinical diagnosis of brain vascular malformations, and providing more complete and detailed information combining with other sequence.