Abstract: Objective To understand the role of cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the surveillance and diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in China. Methods The MRI data from China CJD surveillance network since 2013 was analyzed. Results According to the analysis of the latest 3-year cerebral MRI data, cerebral MRI was performed for 95.2% of probable sCJD cases (374/393). The most frequently observed characteristic change of MRI in probable sCJD cases was symmetry or asymmetry ribbon in Diffusion Weighted Imaging, while protono-density-weighted exhibited high signal in the bilateral thalamus posterior nodules was rarely observed in probable sCJD cases. Conclusion Cerebral MRI plays an important role in the diagnosis of sCJD. Integration of MRI with CJD surveillance network would further improve the CJD surveillance system and the diagnostic of sCJD in China.