Objective To analyze the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of cerebral hemorrhage in basal ganglia and comparison with computed tomography (CT). Methods A total of 50 patients with cerebral hemorrhage in basal ganglia were included in the observation group and 50 patients with acute cerebral infarction were included in the control group. All of them were examined with MRI and CT. MRI findings of both groups were observed and compared with CT. Results There were 30 cases (60.00%) with DWI high signal edema zone in the observation group, significantly more than those in the control group [6 cases (12.00%)]. The proportions of DWI low signal and mixed signal in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the proportion of high signal was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). MRI showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in punctiform or corpus callosum (P>0.05). The proportion of quasi-circular shape in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), while the proportion of irregular shape was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). CT showed that the CT value in observation group was (60- 90) HU, the density of lesions was uneven increase or uniform, there was low-density edema around the hematoma, the morphology of lesions mainly was kidney-shaped, and mass effect gradually occurred at 3-5 days. The CT value of control group was (60 ~ 80) HU, the density of lesions decreased, there was local cerebral edema, the morphology of lesions mainly was elliptical or round, and obvious mass effect occurred at 3 to 10 days. Conclusion MRI and CT can accurately diagnose cerebral hemorrhage in basal ganglia. MRI mainly distinguishes the morphology and DWI sequence signal of lesions while CT mainly identifies the density, morphology, CT value change, edema and mass effect of lesions.