BACKGROUND China ranks 120th worldwide for the incidence of breast cancer and 163rd for mortality. Early screening, diagnosis, and timely determination of the optimal treatment plan can help ensure clinical efficacy and prognosis. AIM To investigate the relationship between quantitative magnetic resonance imaging parameters, apparent diffusion coefficient value, pathological immunohistochemical status, and patient prognosis. METHODS A total of 108 patients with breast cancer (breast cancer group) and 110 patients with benign breast tumors (benign group) confirmed by pathological examination at our Hospital from September 2013 to August 2016 were selected. All patients had undergone preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations, and the quantitative parameters of MM and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values for the two groups were compared. The MRI quantitative parameters and ADC values of patients with different estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 expression were statistically analyzed. The relationship between the quantitative parameters of MM and ADC values and patient recurrence was analyzed using receiver operating curves. RESULTS The measured values of the quantitative parameters of MRI-Ktrans, Kep, and Ve in the breast cancer group were higher than those in the benign group; the ADC value in the breast cancer group was lower than that in the benign group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The Ktrans, Ve, and ADC values in patients with ER-positive breast cancer were significantly lower than those in patients with negative ER expression (P < 0.05). After 5 years of follow-up, 22 patients with breast cancer experienced postoperative recurrence. The. Kep, Ve, and ADC values of the recurrence group were significantly lower than those of the non-recurrence group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION MRI quantitative parameters and ADC are related to the expression of breast cancer-related immunological receptor factors and have certain clinical value in assessing postoperative recurrence in patients.