Background Quantitative dynamic contrast enhancement MR imaging (DCE-MRI), used to measure properties of tissue microvasculature and tumor angiogenesis, is a promising method for distinguishing benign and malignant tumors and characterizing tumor response to antiangiogenic treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of quantitative parameters derived from clinically used DCE-MRI for distinguishing benign from malignant tumors in the sinonasal area, which may be potentially useful for prediction and monitoring of treatment response to chemoradiotherapy of sinonasal tumors. Methods One hundred and forty-three patients with sinonasal tumors, including 78 malignant tumors and 65 benign tumors and tumor-like lesions, underwent clinically used DCE-MRI. Parametric maps were obtained for quantitative parameters including K-trans, k(ep) and v(e). Two radiologists reviewed these maps and measured K-trans, k(ep), and v(e) in the tumor tissue. Data were analyzed using independent T-test or Mann-Whitney U test analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves. Results K-trans, k(ep) and v(e) showed significant differences between benign and malignant tumors in the sinonasal area (P=0.000 1). The accuracy of K-trans, k(ep) and V-e in differentiation between benign and malignant sinonasal tumors were 72.0%, 76.2% and 67.1%, respectively. There were significant differences in k(ep), and v(e) between malignant epithelial sinonasal tumors and lymphomas (P <0.05). Using a ve value of 0.213 as the threshold value differentiated malignant epithelial tumors from lymphomas with an accuracy of 78.3%, sensitivity of 88.2%, specificity of 68.0%, positive predictive value of 66.7%, and negative predictive value of 90.9%. However, no significant difference in K-trans and k(ep) was found between malignant epithelial and non-epithelial tumors in the sinonasal area (P>0.05). Conclusions It is feasible that quantitative parameters of tumors can be derived from clinically used DCE-MRI in the sinonasal region. Preliminary findings suggest an increased value for quantitative DCE-MRI in the evaluation of sinonasal tumors in clinical practice.