Thoracentesis cost in Philadelphia, PA
In Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, 21 hospitals list a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $227.00 to $4,410.63, with a median of $617.00. The lowest listed price is at St Mary Medical Center — $390.00 less than the median here. Across Pennsylvania, the median is $1,425.60 at 65 hospitals.
Cash prices at 21 facilities across 18 cities for code 32555, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 24, 2026 and Sep 1, 2026.
Lowest$227.00St Mary Medical Center
Median$617.00half pay less
Highest$4,410.63in this market
Difference19.4×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
median
Lowest $227.00Highest $4,531.80
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary Medical Center lowest Langhorne, PA · (215) 750-2003 PR Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Cath Aspiration W Imaging Guidance | $227.00 | $227.00 | $8.69–$215.65 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Camden, NJ · (856) 886-5373 HC Thoracentesis W/ Imaging | $311.20 | $3,112.00 | $675.68–$16,391.00 | 90% | — source file |
| Virtua Memorial Hospital Mount Holly, NJ · (609) 267-0700 HC Thoracentesis W/ Imaging | $311.20 | $3,112.00 | $675.68–$16,391.00 | 90% | — source file |
| West Jersey Hospital Voorhees, NJ · (856) 247-3000 HC Thoracentesis W/ Imaging | $311.20 | $3,112.00 | $675.68–$16,391.00 | 90% | — source file |
| Virtua Willingboro Hospital Willinboro, NJ · (609) 835-2900 HC Thoracentesis W/ Imaging | $311.20 | $3,112.00 | $675.68–$16,391.00 | 90% | — source file |
| West Jersey Hospital Voorhees, NJ · (856) 247-3000 HC Thoracentesis W/ Imaging | $311.20 | $3,112.00 | $675.68–$16,391.00 | 90% | — source file |
| Paoli Hospital Paoli, PA · (610) 648-1000 Hc Thoracent For Asp W Guidance | $456.80 | $1,142.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Riddle Memorial Hospital Media, PA · (610) 566-9400 Hc Thoracent For Asp W Guidance | $456.80 | $1,142.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Lankenau Medical Center Wynnewood, PA · (610) 645-2000 Hc Thoracent For Asp W Guidance | $456.80 | $1,142.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Bryn Mawr Hospital Bryn Mawr, PA · (610) 526-3000 Hc Thoracent For Asp W Guidance | $456.80 | $1,142.00 | — | 60% | — source file |
| Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital Malvern, PA Hc Thoracent For Asp W Guidance | $456.80 | $1,142.00 | — | 60% | — source file |
| The Bryn Mawr Hospital Bryn Mawr, PA · (610) 526-3000 Hc Thoracent For Asp W Guide | $479.60 | $1,199.00 | — | 60% | — source file |
| Paoli Hospital Paoli, PA · (610) 648-1000 Hc Thoracent For Asp W Guide | $479.60 | $1,199.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Riddle Memorial Hospital Media, PA · (610) 566-9400 Hc Thoracent For Asp W Guide | $479.60 | $1,199.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital Malvern, PA Hc Thoracent For Asp W Guide | $479.60 | $1,199.00 | — | 60% | — source file |
| Lankenau Medical Center Wynnewood, PA · (610) 645-2000 Hc Thoracent For Asp W Guide | $479.60 | $1,199.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Lower Bucks Hospital Bristol, PA · (215) 785-9200 Hc Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath Pleura Asp W Imag | $617.00 | $3,100.05 | $88.70–$2,523.13 | 80% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Roxborough Memorial Hospital Philadelphia, PA · (215) 483-9900 Hc Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath Pleura Asp W Imag | $641.00 | $2,977.15 | $88.70–$2,887.84 | 78% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Roxborough Memorial Hospital Philadelphia, PA · (215) 483-9900 Hc Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath Pleura Asp W Imag | $641.00 | $2,977.15 | $88.70–$2,887.84 | 78% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital one side Darby, PA · (215) 237-4000 HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Rt | $987.35 | $1,519.00 | $119.75–$4,611.48 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital one side Darby, PA · (215) 237-4000 HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Lt | $987.35 | $1,519.00 | $119.75–$4,611.48 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St. Francis Hospital one side Wilmington, DE · (302) 421-4100 HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Lt | $1,180.40 | $1,816.00 | $635.60–$4,986.58 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St. Francis Hospital one side Wilmington, DE · (302) 421-4100 HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Rt | $1,180.40 | $1,816.00 | $635.60–$4,986.58 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Nazareth Hospital one side Philadelphia, PA · (215) 335-6000 HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Lt | $1,478.75 | $2,275.00 | $128.62–$4,104.05 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Nazareth Hospital one side Philadelphia, PA · (215) 335-6000 HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Rt | $1,478.75 | $2,275.00 | $128.62–$4,104.05 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital Darby, PA · (215) 237-4000 HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Bl | $1,481.35 | $2,279.00 | $119.75–$4,611.48 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St. Francis Hospital Wilmington, DE · (302) 421-4100 HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Bl | $1,770.60 | $2,724.00 | $667.69–$4,986.58 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Nazareth Hospital Philadelphia, PA · (215) 335-6000 HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Bl | $2,218.45 | $3,413.00 | $128.62–$4,104.05 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Nemours Children's Hospital Wilmington, DE · (302) 651-4000 Thoracentesis, Aspiration Pleural Space With Img | $2,652.00 | $2,652.00 | — | — | — source file |
| Nemours Children's Hospital Wilmington, DE · (302) 651-4000 Thoracentesis, Aspiration Pleural Space With Img | $2,652.00 | $2,652.00 | — | — | — source file |
| St Mary Medical Center one side Langhorne, PA · (215) 750-2003 HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Lt | $3,021.20 | $4,648.00 | $102.01–$4,966.89 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St Mary Medical Center one side Langhorne, PA · (215) 750-2003 HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Rt | $3,021.20 | $4,648.00 | $102.01–$4,966.89 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| St Mary Medical Center one side Langhorne, PA · (215) 750-2003 HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Rt | $3,629.98 | — | $102.01–$4,966.89 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · (215) 590-1000 IR Thoracentesis W/Imaging | $4,319.28 | $4,319.28 | $1,136.83–$9,018.00 | — | — source file |
| The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · (215) 590-1000 Thora Ndle/Cth Pleura W/Imaging | $4,319.28 | $4,319.28 | $1,136.83–$9,018.00 | — | — source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill Mullica Hill, NJ CT Thoracentesis W IMG | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $705.76–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill Mullica Hill, NJ SMC- INSERT CATH PLEURA W/ IMAGE (RAD) | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $705.76–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill Mullica Hill, NJ THORACENTESIS W IMAGING | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $705.76–$12,612.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill Mullica Hill, NJ Thoracentesis W Image | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $705.76–$4,105.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mannington Salem, NJ US Thoracentesis with IMG | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mannington Salem, NJ CT Thoracentesis W IMG | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mannington Salem, NJ SMC- INSERT CATH PLEURA W/ IMAGE (RAD) | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mannington Salem, NJ THORACENTESIS W IMAGING | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$12,612.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mannington Salem, NJ Thoracentesis W Image | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$4,105.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Elmer Elmer, NJ · (856) 363-1000 Thoracentesis W Image | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$4,105.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Elmer Elmer, NJ · (856) 363-1000 THORACENTESIS W IMAGING | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$12,612.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Elmer Elmer, NJ · (856) 363-1000 SMC- INSERT CATH PLEURA W/ IMAGE (RAD) | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Elmer Elmer, NJ · (856) 363-1000 CT Thoracentesis W IMG | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Elmer Elmer, NJ · (856) 363-1000 US Thoracentesis with IMG | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Health Center Woodbury Woodbury, NJ Thoracentesis W Image | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$4,105.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Health Center Woodbury Woodbury, NJ THORACENTESIS W IMAGING | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$12,612.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Health Center Woodbury Woodbury, NJ SMC- INSERT CATH PLEURA W/ IMAGE (RAD) | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Health Center Woodbury Woodbury, NJ CT Thoracentesis W IMG | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Health Center Woodbury Woodbury, NJ US Thoracentesis with IMG | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $690.29–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill Mullica Hill, NJ US Thoracentesis with IMG | $4,410.63 | $4,410.63 | $705.76–$6,872.00 | — | Mar 24, 2026 source file |
| St Mary Medical Center Langhorne, PA · (215) 750-2003 HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Bl | $4,531.80 | $6,972.00 | $102.01–$6,623.40 | 35% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $227.00, median $617.00, highest $4,410.63 — a 19.4× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 14 facilities here, median $1,083.88. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 12 of 15 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 4 it is below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What it is
Thoracentesis removes fluid from around the lungs with a needle, using ultrasound to guide it.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the procedure and guidance. Lab tests on the fluid are billed separately.