Upper Back (Thoracic Spine) MRI (without contrast) cost at US hospitals

MRI thoracic spine without contrast · CPT 72146

What is Upper Back (Thoracic Spine) MRI (without contrast)? Read the full explainer →

Upper Back (Thoracic Spine) MRI (without contrast)

This scans the middle section of the spine, behind the ribcage. It is ordered less often than neck or lower back MRI, and usually for a different reason: a compression fracture, or symptoms suggesting the spinal cord is being squeezed at that level. No dye and no radiation.

$233.59

lowest cash price

$2,034.41

national median

$19,355.60

highest cash price

932

hospitals with a published cash price

Middle half of hospitals (25th–75th percentile) against the full range. The same procedure varies $233.59–$19,355.60 — the variation is the story.

Cheapest published cash price

$233.59

Henry Ford Rochester Hospital — Rochester, MI

Most expensive published cash price

$19,355.60

HCA HealthONE SOUTH PARKER ER, A PART OF SKY RIDGE — PARKER, CO

Median cash price over time

Sep 1, 2025 ($1,296.25) → Sep 1, 2026 ($6,544.52)

By state

State Hospitals Lowest cash Median Highest
Alaska 4 $1,255.80 $3,249.48 $3,650.40
Arizona 22 $278.86 $418.30 $3,443.63
Arkansas 7 $561.60 $1,018.21 $3,450.00
California 90 $607.50 $2,392.00 $9,452.85
Colorado 17 $296.87 $5,468.12 $19,355.60
Florida 81 $558.05 $6,129.50 $17,373.43
Georgia 25 $1,415.18 $1,762.41 $11,676.27
Hawaii 2 $843.52 $843.52 $1,965.00
Illinois 51 $949.41 $3,092.65 $4,771.20
Indiana 26 $582.60 $824.50 $3,225.02
Iowa 30 $1,033.50 $2,551.90 $4,562.00
Kansas 11 $1,343.20 $4,032.52 $13,016.93
Kentucky 26 $839.98 $3,205.20 $17,106.64
Louisiana 1 $598.00 $598.00 $598.00
Maine 7 $1,296.25 $2,181.10 $2,554.55
Maryland 2 $247.20 $247.20 $247.20
Michigan 27 $233.59 $1,902.00 $4,715.20
Minnesota 19 $547.30 $2,707.20 $3,441.60
Mississippi 11 $263.12 $992.68 $1,427.28
Missouri 20 $1,180.08 $1,485.00 $12,686.18
Montana 2 $1,331.20 $1,331.20 $1,821.60
Nebraska 12 $1,144.02 $1,561.56 $3,894.70
Nevada 3 $1,140.52 $1,300.32 $1,439.87
New Hampshire 1 $4,362.00 $4,362.00 $4,362.00
New Jersey 21 $264.17 $491.04 $712.14
New Mexico 2 $1,821.12 $1,821.12 $1,821.12
New York 22 $286.04 $286.04 $6,747.00
North Carolina 15 $1,410.50 $2,013.08 $3,994.00
North Dakota 4 $2,102.40 $2,102.40 $3,093.60
Ohio 54 $1,032.80 $1,507.35 $5,316.00
Oklahoma 16 $976.62 $1,975.05 $3,948.00
Oregon 13 $262.44 $1,284.00 $2,343.75
Pennsylvania 32 $454.00 $1,656.00 $6,214.20
South Carolina 11 $830.50 $1,673.40 $11,629.00
South Dakota 7 $2,735.20 $3,200.00 $3,687.20
Tennessee 38 $593.63 $775.50 $11,581.99
Texas 112 $676.62 $2,192.54 $19,284.56
Virginia 43 $593.63 $2,000.00 $11,850.00
Washington 32 $1,057.44 $1,854.72 $3,458.70
West Virginia 17 $868.50 $1,381.00 $3,243.60
Wisconsin 33 $808.26 $2,110.00 $5,147.81
Wyoming 4 $796.32 $1,157.91 $1,227.35

All hospitals

Hospital Location Cash price Negotiated range
HSHS St. Vincent Hospital Green Bay, WI $2,295.48 $55.30 – $1,444.47
Emory Decatur Hospital Decatur, GA $2,296.00 $236.43 – $828.00
Emory Long-Term Acute Care Hospital Decatur, GA $2,296.00 $236.43 – $236.43
Emory Johns Creek Hospital Johns Creek, GA $2,296.00 $236.43 – $828.00
Emory Hillandale Hospital Lithonia, GA $2,296.00 $236.43 – $828.00
Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital Atlanta, GA $2,296.00 $236.43 – $828.00
Emory University Hospital Midtown Atlanta, GA $2,296.00 $236.43 – $828.00
Emory Rehabilitation Hospital Atlanta, GA $2,296.00 $231.10 – $828.00
Emory University Hospital Ne, GA $2,296.00 $236.43 – $828.00
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center Mansfield, TX $2,307.00 $186.33 – $838.20
Methodist Charlton Medical Center Dallas, TX $2,307.00 $186.33 – $836.61
Methodist Midlothian Medical Center Midlothian, TX $2,307.00 $186.33 – $802.60
Methodist Dallas Medical Center Dallas, TX $2,307.00 $186.33 – $836.61
Methodist Richardson Medical Center Richardson, TX $2,307.00 $186.33 – $925.17
Methodist Celina Medical Center Celina, TX $2,307.00 $215.75 – $599.22
Methodist Southlake Medical Center Souhtlake, TX $2,307.00 $186.33 – $838.20
California Hospital Medical Center Los Angeles, CA $2,308.12 $239.28 – $3,759.61
SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo Baraboo, WI $2,318.25 $173.82 – $1,607.41
Stephens Memorial Hospital Norway, ME $2,335.65 $69.85 – $2,176.83
UPMC Kane Kane, PA $2,338.80 $287.49 – $1,374.01
Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Hood River, OR $2,343.75 not published
Sanford Medical Center Bismarck Bismarck, ND $2,352.80 $195.40 – $2,646.90
Ascension St. Vincent Williamsport (St. Vincent Williamsport Hospital, Inc.) Williamsport, IN $2,362.80 $35.32 – $700.00
O'Bleness Hospital Athens, OH $2,364.05 $227.83 – $230.11
Ascension St. Vincent Mercy (St. Vincent Madison County Health System, Inc.) Elwood, IN $2,384.40 $53.22 – $700.00
St. Luke's Health - Patients Medical Center Pasadena, TX $2,391.20 $186.33 – $5,124.00
Orange County Anaheim Medical Center Anaheim, CA $2,392.00 $220.00 – $220.00
Baldwin Park Medical Center BALDWIN PARK, CA $2,392.00 $220.00 – $220.00
Downey Medical Center Downey, CA $2,392.00 $220.00 – $220.00
San Bernardino - Fontana Medical Center FONTANA, CA $2,392.00 $220.00 – $220.00
Riverside Medical Center RIVERSIDE, CA $2,392.00 $220.00 – $220.00
South Bay Medical Center HARBOR CITY, CA $2,392.00 $220.00 – $220.00
West Los Angeles Medical Center LOS ANGELES, CA $2,392.00 $220.00 – $220.00
San Marcos Medical Center SAN MARCOS, CA $2,392.00 $220.00 – $220.00
Woodland Hills Medical Center WOODLAND HILLS, CA $2,392.00 $220.00 – $220.00
Los Angeles Sunset Medical Center LOS ANGELES, CA $2,392.00 $220.00 – $220.00
San Diego Clairemont Mesa Medical Center SAN DIEGO, CA $2,392.00 $220.00 – $220.00
Panorama Medical Center PANORAMA CITY, CA $2,392.00 $220.00 – $220.00
Moreno Valley Medical Center MORENO VALLEY, CA $2,392.00 $220.00 – $220.00
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance Fort Worth, TX $2,394.15 $196.14 – $215.75
Texas Health Center for Diagnostics and Surgery Plano Plano, TX $2,394.15 $196.14 – $211.83
Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital Arlington, TX $2,394.15 $196.14 – $215.75
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen Allen, TX $2,394.15 $196.14 – $211.83
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Flower Mound Flower Mound, TX $2,394.15 $196.14 – $215.75
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle Azle, TX $2,394.15 $196.14 – $215.75
Texas Health Heart & Vascular Hospital Arlington Arlington, TX $2,394.15 $196.14 – $215.75
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton Denton, TX $2,394.15 $196.14 – $215.75
Texas Health Hospital Frisco Frisco, TX $2,394.15 $196.14 – $211.83
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas Dallas, TX $2,394.15 $196.14 – $211.83
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford Bedford, TX $2,394.15 $196.14 – $215.75

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