Thoracic spine MRI cost in Chicago, IL
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 50 hospitals list a cash price for MRI of the mid back (thoracic spine), no contrast dye: from $254.00 to $6,213.00, with a median of $2,165.10. The lowest listed price is at Mercy Medical Center and 1 other hospital — $1,911.10 less than the median here. Across Illinois, the median is $1,777.50 at 64 hospitals.
Cash prices at 50 facilities across 36 cities for code 72146, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 17, 2025 and Sep 1, 2026.
Lowest$254.00Mercy Medical Center + 1 more
Median$2,165.10half pay less
Highest$6,213.00in this market
Difference24.5×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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
median
Lowest $254.00Highest $6,213.00
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Medical Center lowest Aurora, IL · (630) 859-2222 MRI T-SPINE SURVEY WO CONTRAST | $254.00 | $4,772.00 | $126.05–$4,772.00 | 95% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Francis Hospital lowest Evanston, IL · (847) 316-4000 HC MRI, DORSAL SPINE | $254.00 | $2,877.00 | $123.72–$2,387.91 | 91% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center lowest Aurora, IL · (630) 859-2222 THORACIC SPINE WITHOUTCONTRAST | $254.00 | $4,772.00 | $126.05–$4,772.00 | 95% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Roseland Community Hospital Association Chicago, IL · (773) 995-3000 MRI scan of middle spinal canal without contrast | $302.84 | $597.00 | $237.79–$750.00 | 49% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Gottlieb Memorial Hospital Melrose Park, IL · (708) 681-3200 MR Scan Spine Thor-WO/Con | $744.04 | $3,916.00 | $1,858.00–$2,544.00 | 81% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Humboldt Park Health Chicago, IL · (773) 292-8200 MRI scan of middle spinal canal without contrast | $817.08 | $2,918.16 | $2,918.16 | 72% | Aug 24, 2026 source file |
| Loyola University Medical Center Maywood, IL · (708) 216-9000 MR Scan Spine Thor-WO/Con | $900.68 | $3,916.00 | $234.34–$750.54 | 77% | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Presence Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago Chicago, IL · (773) 665-3000 HC MRI THORACIC SPINE W/O CONT | $949.41 | $2,877.00 | $140.10–$1,805.60 | 67% | — source file |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Glenoaks Glendale Heights, IL · (630) 545-8000 HC MRI, DORSAL SPINE | $950.00 | $3,800.00 | — | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange La Grange, IL · (708) 352-1200 HC MRI, DORSAL SPINE | $950.00 | $3,800.00 | — | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange La Grange, IL · (708) 352-1200 HC MRI, DORSAL SPINE | $950.00 | $3,800.00 | — | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale Hinsdale, IL · (630) 856-9000 HC MRI, DORSAL SPINE | $950.00 | $3,800.00 | — | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale Hinsdale, IL · (630) 856-9000 HC MRI, DORSAL SPINE | $950.00 | $3,800.00 | — | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook Bolingbrook, IL · (630) 312-5000 HC MRI, DORSAL SPINE | $950.00 | $3,800.00 | — | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook Bolingbrook, IL · (630) 312-5000 HC MRI, DORSAL SPINE | $950.00 | $3,800.00 | — | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine AdventHealth Glenoaks Glendale Heights, IL · (630) 545-8000 HC MRI, DORSAL SPINE | $950.00 | $3,800.00 | — | 75% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Advocate Christ Medical Center Oak Lawn, IL · (708) 684-8000 MR T SPINE WO DYE | $1,210.00 | $2,420.00 | $365.36–$1,936.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Oak Lawn Oak Lawn, IL MR T SPINE WO DYE | $1,210.00 | $2,420.00 | $365.36–$1,936.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Christ Medical Center Oak Lawn, IL · (708) 684-8000 MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,210.00 | $2,420.00 | $365.36–$1,936.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Oak Lawn Oak Lawn, IL MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,210.00 | $2,420.00 | $365.36–$1,936.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 975-1600 MR T SPINE WO DYE | $1,350.00 | $2,700.00 | $365.36–$2,197.80 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 975-1600 MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WO DYE | $1,350.00 | $2,700.00 | $365.36–$2,197.80 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8700 MRI Spine Thoracic w/o Contrast BCE | $1,381.76 | $4,063.99 | $229.57–$2,641.59 | 66% | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| Louis A Weiss Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8700 MRI Spine Thoracic w/o Contrast | $1,381.76 | $4,063.99 | $229.57–$2,641.59 | 66% | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Barrington, IL · (847) 381-9600 MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WO DYE | $1,425.00 | $2,850.00 | $365.36–$2,280.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Barrington, IL · (847) 381-9600 MR T SPINE WO DYE | $1,425.00 | $2,850.00 | $365.36–$2,280.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Barrington, IL · (847) 381-9600 MRI THORACIC SPINE SURVEY WO CON | $1,425.00 | $2,850.00 | $365.36–$2,280.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Barrington, IL · (847) 381-9600 MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,425.00 | $2,850.00 | $365.36–$2,280.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Downers Grove, IL · (630) 275-5900 MR T SPINE WO DYE | $1,505.00 | $3,010.00 | $365.36–$2,408.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Downers Grove, IL · (630) 275-5900 MRI THORACIC SPINE SURVEY WO CON | $1,505.00 | $3,010.00 | $365.36–$2,408.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Downers Grove, IL · (630) 275-5900 MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WO DYE | $1,505.00 | $3,010.00 | $365.36–$2,408.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Downers Grove, IL · (630) 275-5900 MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,505.00 | $3,010.00 | $365.36–$2,408.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Resilience Healthcare West Suburban Medical Center Oak Park, IL · (708) 383-6200 MRI Spine Thoracic w/o Contrast BCE | $1,548.85 | $4,555.45 | $244.41–$2,961.04 | 66% | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| Resilience Healthcare West Suburban Medical Center Oak Park, IL · (708) 383-6200 MRI Spine Thoracic w/o Contrast | $1,548.85 | $4,555.45 | $244.41–$2,961.04 | 66% | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, IL MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WO DYE | $1,650.00 | $3,300.00 | $365.36–$3,214.20 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, IL MRI THORACIC SPINE SURVEY WO CON | $1,650.00 | $3,300.00 | $365.36–$3,214.20 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, IL MR T SPINE WO DYE | $1,650.00 | $3,300.00 | $365.36–$3,214.20 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, IL MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,650.00 | $3,300.00 | $365.36–$3,214.20 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Trinity Hospital Chicago, IL · (773) 967-5002 MR T SPINE WO DYE | $1,650.00 | $3,300.00 | $365.36–$2,640.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Community First Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 282-7000 MRI scan of middle spinal canal without contrast | $1,653.25 | $3,306.50 | $255.69–$3,306.50 | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL · (847) 723-2210 MR T SPINE WO DYE | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | $365.36–$3,026.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WO DYE | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | $365.36–$3,026.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | $365.36–$3,026.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL MR T SPINE WO DYE | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | $365.36–$3,026.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Childrens Hospital Park Ridge Park Ridge, IL MRI THORACIC SPINE SURVEY WO CON | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | $365.36–$3,026.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL · (847) 723-2210 MRI THORACIC SPINE SURVEY WO CON | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | $365.36–$3,026.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL · (847) 723-2210 MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | $365.36–$3,026.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Park Ridge, IL · (847) 723-2210 MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WO DYE | $1,700.00 | $3,400.00 | $365.36–$3,026.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL · (847) 362-2900 MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WO DYE | $1,765.00 | $3,530.00 | $365.36–$2,824.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL · (847) 362-2900 MRI THORACIC SPINE SURVEY WO CON | $1,765.00 | $3,530.00 | $365.36–$2,824.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL · (847) 362-2900 MR T SPINE WO DYE | $1,765.00 | $3,530.00 | $365.36–$2,824.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Condell Medical Center Libertyville, IL · (847) 362-2900 MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $1,765.00 | $3,530.00 | $365.36–$2,824.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Sherman Hospital Elgin, IL · (847) 742-9800 MR T SPINE WO DYE | $1,790.00 | $3,580.00 | $365.36–$3,222.00 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 975-1600 MR THORACIC SPINE LTD WITHOUT DYE | $2,125.00 | $4,250.00 | $365.36–$3,459.50 | 50% | Nov 4, 2025 source file |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Highland Park Hospital Highland Park, IL MRI Thor Spine W/O Contrast | $2,540.20 | $3,908.00 | $527.58–$2,133.77 | 35% | — source file |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Skokie Hospital Skokie, IL MRI Thor Spine W/O Contrast | $2,540.20 | $3,908.00 | $527.58–$2,133.77 | 35% | — source file |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Evanston Hospital Evanson, IL · (847) 570-2000 MRI Thor Spine W/O Contrast | $2,540.20 | $3,908.00 | $527.58–$2,133.77 | 35% | — source file |
| NorthShore University HealthSystems Glenbrook Hospital Glenview, IL MRI Thor Spine W/O Contrast | $2,540.20 | $3,908.00 | $527.58–$2,133.77 | 35% | — source file |
| Northwest Community Hospital Arlington Heights, IL · (847) 618-1000 Hb Mri Chest Spine W/O Dye | $3,254.00 | $3,254.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Chicago, IL · (312) 227-4000 H MR SPINE THORACIC NEURO WO CONTR | $3,460.10 | $4,943.00 | $840.31–$8,500.00 | 30% | — source file |
| Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital DeKalb, IL · (815) 756-1521 HB MRI Chest Spine W/O Dye | $3,809.40 | $5,442.00 | $995.89–$5,442.00 | 30% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital Lake Forest, IL · (847) 234-5600 HB MRI Chest Spine W/O Dye | $3,809.40 | $5,442.00 | $903.37–$5,442.00 | 30% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital Sandwich, IL · (815) 786-8484 HB MRI Chest Spine W/O Dye | $3,809.40 | $5,442.00 | $1,033.98–$5,442.00 | 30% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital Geneva, IL · (630) 208-3000 HB MRI Chest Spine W/O Dye | $3,809.40 | $5,442.00 | $810.86–$5,442.00 | 30% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Winfield, IL · (630) 682-1600 HB MRI Chest Spine W/O Dye | $3,809.40 | $5,442.00 | $375.50–$5,442.00 | 30% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital Wheaton, IL HB MRI Chest Spine W/O Dye | $3,809.40 | $5,442.00 | $2,285.64–$5,442.00 | 30% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Palos Community Hospital Palos Heights, IL · (708) 923-4000 HB MRI Chest Spine W/O Dye | $3,809.40 | $5,442.00 | $870.72–$5,442.00 | 30% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital McHenry, IL · (815) 344-5000 HB MRI Chest Spine W/O Dye | $3,809.40 | $5,442.00 | $1,050.31–$5,442.00 | 30% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Methodist Hospitals Gary, IN · (219) 886-4000 MRI Thoracic Spine W/O Cont | $4,076.80 | $5,824.00 | $251.20–$5,202.14 | 30% | — source file |
| The Methodist Hospitals Merrillville, IN MRI Thoracic Spine W/O Cont | $4,076.80 | $5,824.00 | $251.20–$5,202.14 | 30% | — source file |
| Endeavor Health Clinical Operations Highland Park, IL HB MRI THOR SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $4,397.00 | $4,397.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Covenant Health Chicago, IL · (773) 878-8200 HB MRI THOR SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $4,397.00 | $4,397.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Northshore University Healthsystem - Evanston Hospital Evanston, IL · (847) 570-2000 HB MRI THOR SPINE W/O CONTRAST | $4,397.00 | $4,397.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Ingalls Memorial Hospital Harvey, IL · (708) 333-2300 Hc Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Spinal Canal And Contents, Thoracic; Without Contrast Material | $4,717.00 | $4,717.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Uchicago Medicine Northwest Indiana Crown Point, IN · (312) 755-4706 HC MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, SPINAL CANAL AND CONTENTS, THORACIC; WITHOUT CONTRAST MATERIAL | $4,717.00 | $4,717.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Edward Hospital Naperville, IL · (630) 527-3000 HC MRI THORACIC SPINAL CANAL AND CONTENTS WITHOUT CONTRAST | $5,582.00 | $5,582.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Elmhurst, IL · (331) 221-1000 HC MRI THORACIC SPINAL CANAL AND CONTENTS WITHOUT CONTRAST | $5,582.00 | $5,582.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Shriners Childrens - Chicago Chicago, IL · (773) 622-5400 MRI CHEST SPINE W/O DYE | $5,888.80 | $5,888.80 | $161.45–$1,132.20 | — | — source file |
| The University of Chicago Medical Center Chicago, IL · (773) 702-9785 Hc Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Spinal Canal And Contents, Thoracic; Without Contrast Material | $6,213.00 | $6,213.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $254.00, median $2,165.10, highest $6,213.00 — a 24.5× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 31 facilities here, median $1,765.00. 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 31 of 37 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 2 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
An MRI of the thoracic spine makes detailed pictures of the middle section of the spine, between the neck and the lower back, including discs, vertebrae and the spinal cord. It is ordered for mid-back pain, suspected fractures or nerve symptoms. No contrast dye is used.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers the scan of the mid-back section only. The radiologist's reading is often billed separately.