ObjectiveTo explore the value of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in differential diagnosis of intracranial metastatic tumors.MethodsSixty-three patients with intracranial metastatic tumors (primary tumors of lung cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer, rectal cancer, bladder cancer and melanoma) and glioblastomas in People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2018 to April 2020 were collected, and the intratumoral susceptibility signal intensity (ITSS) was evaluated semi-quantitatively. The grading characteristics of ITSS of metastatic tumors and glioblastomas were compared.ResultsAmong the 81 intracranial metastatic tumors, 36 (44.4%) were grade 0, 25 (30.9%) were grade Ⅰ, 14 (17.3%) were grade Ⅱ and 6 (7.4%) were grade Ⅲ. Among the 27 glioblastomas, 27 (100%) were grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ. Grade 0-Ⅰ metastatic tumors of lung cancer accounted for 73.6% (28/38). Grade 0 metastatic tumors of breast cancer accounted for 84.6% (22/26). Grade Ⅱ metastatic tumor of kidney cancer accounted for 5/6. Grade 0-Ⅰ metastatic tumors of rectal cancer accounted for 4/5. Grade Ⅲ glioblastomas accounted for 77.8% (21/27). The difference of ITSS classification between intracranial metastatic tumors and glioblastomas was statistically significant (Z=7.013,P<0.001). According to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of ITSS ≤grade Ⅰ were 100% and 75.3% respectively, and the area under the curve was 0.936 (95%CI: 0.891-0.980,P<0.001).ConclusionThe patients with intracranial metastatic tumor usually present ITSS grade 0-Ⅰ, and the patients with glioblastoma usually present ITSS grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ. SWI has a certain value for differential diagnosis of intracranial metastatic tumors.