Objective To explore the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma before operation. Methods 124 cases of endometrial cancer were treated in our hospital from January 2015 to September 2017, and the results of preoperative MRI examination and postoperative pathological results were compared. Results The Kappa value of preoperative MRI clinical staging and postoperative pathological staging was 0.724, P<0.05, and the consistency was better. Preoperative MRI evaluation of myometrium infiltration and postoperative pathological results showed that the Kappa value was 0.741, P<0.05, and the consistency was better. Preoperative MRI evaluation of superficial muscle layer invasion showed that the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 86.44%, 87.69%, 86.44%, 87.69% and 87.10%, respectively. Preoperative MRI evaluation of pelvic and abdominal lymph node metastasis and postoperative pathological results showed that Kappa value was 0.275, P<0.05, the consistency was poor,the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of preoperative MRI for pelvic and abdominal lymph node metastasis were 22.22%, 98.26%, 50%, 94.17% and 92.74%, respectively. Conclusion MRI preoperative diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma clinical staging and evaluation of myometrium infiltration has good application value, However, it has low application value to judge pelvic and abdominal lymph node metastasis.