Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of MR diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) single index model and incoherent voxel intra movement (IVIM) model parameters in prostate cancer. Methods A total of 55 cases of prostate cancer in our hospital from January 2016 to June 2018 were selected, with a total of 72 lesions, and 50 cases of prostatic hyperplasia were selected, with a total of 66 lesions were taken as the control, all of them were given DWI scan, the parameters of the single exponential model [apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)] and IVIM model parameters [slow diffusion coefficient (D), fast diffusion coefficient (D*), and volume fraction (f)of rapid diffusion]were measured. Results The ADC value of prostate cancer was (0.723±0.122)×10-3mm2 /s, which was significantly lower than that of prostatic hyperplasia, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). the D value of prostate cancer was (0.702±0.101)×10-3mm2 /s, which was significantly lower than that of prostatic hyperplasia, and the difference was statistically significant (P>0.05). There were no significant difference in D* and f between prostate cancer and prostatic hyperplasia (P>0.05). The area of ROC of ADC and D in the diagnosis of prostate cancer were 0.800 and 0.854, P<0.05, the cut-off values were 0.811×10-3mm2 /s and 0.802×10-3mm2 /s, the sensitivity were 82.00% and 85.50%, and the specificity were 75.00% and 83.00%. Conclusion DWI single exponential model parameters ADC and IVIM model parameters D have a good application value in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, which is worthy of clinical application.