Imaging - CT
CT lumbar spine with contrast cost in North Carolina
CT lumbar spine with contrast is an imaging test. Cash prices for imaging vary widely: hospitals often charge several times what an independent imaging center charges for the same scan.
Typical cash price
In North Carolina
From 121 hospital and 0 clinic prices in North Carolina.
Nationwide typical: $1,692 (most listed prices $556–$4,694).
Usually included: the scan itself (technical fee) + the radiologist's read (professional fee).
Good to know: A post-myelogram CT is coded the same way, but intrathecal contrast is given during a separate myelography procedure (62302-62305). It is a different bundle.
Cheapest in North Carolina
Total price
CT lumbar spine with contrast
The scan + the radiologist's read
How totals are compared
Every total covers the same bundle: the scan + the radiologist's read. Where a hospital does not publish a part, the typical published amount is added and the total is marked estimated.
In North Carolina, from 121 providers. Most listed prices: $1,159–$3,679.
Cheapest totals nearby
- $318
- CarolinaEast Medical Center$459Hospital · New BernEstimated: adds a typical amount for unpublished parts
- $615
- $174est. $318 total
The radiologist read is billed separately. Location not independently confirmed.
Source: Granville Health System price file · checked Oct 2026 - $315est. $459 total
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: CarolinaEast Medical Center price file · checked Oct 2026 - $471est. $615 total
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Alleghany Health price file · checked Oct 2026 - $668est. $812 total
The radiologist read is billed separately. Location not independently confirmed.
- $758est. $902 total
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Iredell Memorial Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - $1,036
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Henderson County Hospital Corporation price file · checked Oct 2026 - $960est. $1,104 total
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Novant Health Pender Medical Center price file · checked Oct 2026 - $1,109
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: WakeMed Cary Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - WakeMed Mental Health & Well Being Hospital - WakebrookCT scan of lower back (lumbar spine), with contrastScan only$1,109
The radiologist read is billed separately. +1 more in this system at the same published price.
Source: WakeMed Mental Health & Well Being Hospital - Wake price fil · checked Oct 2026 - $1,116
The radiologist read is billed separately. Location not independently confirmed.
Source: UNC Rockingham Health Care price file · checked Oct 2026 - $1,127
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Harris Regional Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - $1,127
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Common questions
Is the radiologist's read included?
Not always. Hospitals usually list the scan (technical fee) and the radiologist's read (professional fee) separately. Many imaging centers quote one all-in price. Look for the "All-in", "Scan only" or "Read only" label on each price.
Do I need a referral?
Most imaging tests need an order from a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. Some imaging centers can arrange one; ask when you call.
Why are prices so different?
Each hospital and clinic sets its own cash price. Hospitals publish prices because federal rules require it; clinics and booking sites set prices to compete. The same service can cost several times more at one place than at another nearby.
Can I pay cash if I have insurance?
Yes. You can choose to self-pay. A cash price is often lower than what you would pay before meeting your deductible. Cash payments may not count toward your deductible, so check with your plan. Our cash vs. insurance tool can help you decide.
What is a Good Faith Estimate?
If you are uninsured or paying cash, providers must give you a Good Faith Estimate of the cost on request. If your final bill is $400 or more above the estimate, you can dispute it.