Objective To introduce the current value of multi-detector row CT (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques on evaluation of diffuse hepatic parenchymal diseases.Methods By literature review, the application and recent advances of various kinds of MDCT and MR imaging techniques in evaluating diffuse hepatic parenchymal diseases were summarized. Results There were three kinds of diffuse liver parenchyma diseases, which were the diseases of storage, vascular and inflammatory. The morphology changes of diffuse liver parenchyma diseases could be demonstrated well by MDCT. MRI, especially MR functional imaging could reflect the morphology changes, and cellular metabolic activity of the liver, which provided qualitative and quantitative information for the diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic effect on diffuse liver parenchyma diseases. Conclusion MR imaging techniques, especially those functional techniques, developed rapidly and had practical value in both the diagnosis and severity assessment of hepatic fibrosis.