Objective：To assess the value of two-dimensional chemical shift imaging magnetic resonance spectroscopy （2 D CSI ^1 H-MRS） in diagnosis of ring-enhancing intracerebral lesions. Methods： Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging manifestations were analyzed retrospectively in 62 patients with ring-enhancing intracerebral lesions （confirmed by clinical or histopathologic findings）, including 20 gliomas, 18 metastatic tumors, 16 brain inflammations, and 8 radiation damages. The appearance rate of lactate （Lac） was analyzed and the concentrations of choline （Cho）, N-acetyl aspartate （NAA）, creatine （Cr） and NAA/Cho, Cho/Cr and NAA/Cr ratios in the enhancing regions were calculated （including the inside of enhancing regions ） . Results： （1）There was no difference in appearance rate of Lac among the 4 groups. （2）NAA/Cho ratios in the glioma, metastatic tumor, inflammation and radiation damage group were 0.43±0.32, 0.69±0.29, 1.26±0.53 and 0. 63±0. 34, respectively, with that of the glioma group being significantly lower than those of the other 3 groups（P〈 0.05）. When NAA/Cho ratio is less than 0.4, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value （PPV） and negative predictive value （NPV） of MRS for high-grade glioma were 80.2%, 77.4%, 71.5% and 89.4%, respectively, all higher than those of MRI, but lower than those of MRI combined with MRS. （3）The concentrations of Cr in glioma, inflammation and radiation damage groups were 0.17±0.05, 0.10±0.05, 0.21±0.08 and 0.21±0. 09, respectively, with that of metastatic tumor being significantly lower than those of the other 3 groups（P〈0.05）. When Cr〈0.06, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of MRS for metastatic tumor were 81.3~, 81.9~, 74. 1% and 90. 1%, respectively, all higher than those of MRI, but lower than those of MRI combined with MRS. Conclusion, 2D CSI 1 H-MRS is very useful in the differential diagnosis of ring-enhancing intracerebral lesions and the combined application of MRI and MRS has a higher diagnostic value