Objective To explore the differentially diagnostic value of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd⁃EOB⁃DTPA)⁃enhanced MRI between liver focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The clinical data of 35 liver FNH patients (the liver FNH group) and 54 HCC patients (the HCC group) were retrospectively analyzed, and the imageology data of Gd⁃EOB⁃DTPA⁃enhanced MRI were compared between the two groups. The multivariate Logistic regression model was used to screen factors related to liver FNH. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to analyze imaging features of Gd⁃EOB⁃DTPA⁃enhanced MRI for alone differentially diagnosing the value between liver FNH and HCC. Results The liver FNH group exhibited higher proportions of central scars, diffusion weighted imaging with low signal, dynamic reinforcement mode (fast⁃in and slow⁃out), hepatobiliary stage center with low or high signal and concomitant peripheral high signal, as well as a high apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value as compared with the HCC group (P<0.05). The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that dynamic reinforcement mode (fast⁃in and slow⁃out), hepatobiliary stage center with low or high signal and concomitant peripheral high signal, and elevated ADC value were related to liver FNH (P<0.05). The results of ROC curve analysis indicated that areas under the curve of dynamic reinforcement mode (fast⁃in and slow⁃out), hepatobiliary stage center with low or high signal and concomitant peripheral high signal, and ADC value for differentially diagnosing liver FNH and HCC were 0.788, 0.864, 0.810, respectively, and the differential diagnosis efficiency of the 3 as above was similar. Conclusion Dynamic reinforcement mode (fast⁃in and slow⁃out), hepatobiliary stage center with low or high signal and concomitant peripheral high signal, and ADC value of Gd⁃EOB⁃DTPA⁃enhanced MRI can effectively perform differential diagnosis between liver FNH and HCC.