PURPOSE: To compare magnetization transfer ratios (MTR) among various cerebral edemas with different pathophysiologic processes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cerebral edemas seen on MR images in 45 patients were classified as one of three types: vasogenic (n=22; tumor[n=9], contusion[n=3], hemangioma[n=4], hemorrhage[n=4], others[2]); cytotoxic (n=18; all acute infarction), and interstitial edema (n=5). In all cases, both T2-weighted images with and without magnetization transfer were obtained using off-set pulses of 600Hz. MTRs in each cerebral edema were measured and compared. RESULTS: The mean MTRs of vasogenic edema, cytotoxic edema and interstitial edema were 22 +/- 5%, 26 +/- 4 % and 19 +/- 2%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference among the three types (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Mean MTR was highest in cytotoxic edema and lowest in interstitial edema, but the differences were not significant.