Objective To observe the magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS) characteristics of pulmonary nodules, and to investigate the value in differential diagnosis. Methods A total of 105 patients with pulmonary nodules were selected as the study objects, and all the objects underwent MRI plain scan, dynamic enhanced scan and MRS imaging to observe the plain scan characteristic, the changes of signal on dynamic enhanced scan and the parameter difference of MRS. Results There was no significant difference in the intensity of T1WI (P＞0.05) in patients with pulmonary cancer, pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor and pulmonary tuberculosis. The comparison between the average peak value of them and the increased value after enhancement and the S/A ratio showed that the difference was statistically significant (P ＜0.05). The peak value, the increased value after enhancement and the S/A ratio of the pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor hit the highest value, and the pulmonary tuberculosis had the lowest value. The value of Cho, Lac135, Lac270 and Cho/Cr of pulmonary cancer were significantly higher than those of the pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor and pulmonary tuberculosis, and the value of NAA was significantly lower than pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor and pulmonary tuberculosis, the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). The comparison of Cho、Cr、NAA、 Lac135、Lac270 and Cho/Cr between the pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor and pulmonary tuberculosis had no statistically significant (P＞0.05). Conclusion The dynamic enhancement characteristics and MRS metabolites of pulmonary cancer was different from pulmonary tuberculosis and pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor. The MRI dynamic enhancement scan and MRS imaging had differential diagnostic value in the diagnosis.