Objective To investigate the value of MRI on the preoperative diagnosis for breast invasive ductal carcinoma combined with histopathology. Methods Seventy-five patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma confirmed with surgery and pathology were reviewed， which were treated in our hospital from Jan to Jun in 2012. The data of MRI before operation were retrospectively analyzed. Results The morphological classification of lesions was mass in 54 cases， micronodular in 21 cases， and cystoid solid in 0 case， respectively. The shape of neoplasm was circular in 3 cases， ovoid in 9 cases， and irregular in 63 cases， respectively. The edge of lesions was irregular in 66 cases，regular in 9 cases， and slightest lobulated in 56 cases， respectively. There was 1 case within the tumor calcification and lymph node metastasis in 18 cases. The MRI features of the T1WI were low signal intensity in 65 cases， signal intensity similar in 10 cases， and the T2WI were low signal intensity in 3 cases and mixed slightly high signals in 72 cases. After enhancement， the tumor had homogeneous enhancement in 64 cases， heterogeneous enhancement in 11 cases. Conclusion The analysis of MRI characteristic features of invasive ductal carcinoma can provid b evidence of imaging for clinical diagnosis of breast invasive ductal carcinoma.