Thoracentesis cost in North Carolina
In North Carolina, 37 hospitals publish a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $373.41 to $2,936.00, with a median of $1,571.00. The lowest price is at Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital (Mooresville). The highest price is 7.9× the lowest.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 32555. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 24, 2026.
Lowest$373.41Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital
Median$1,571.00half pay less
Highest$2,936.00in North Carolina
Lowest saves$1,197.59vs the median
Hospitals in North Carolina, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital lowest Mooresville · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Aspirate Pleura W Imaging | $373.41 | $1,383.00 | — source file |
| Vidant Chowan Hospital one side Edenton · Edenton, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Lt-ED | $398.16 | $711.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Medical Center one side Greenville · Greenville, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Rt-ED | $412.34 | $778.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Pitt County Memorial Hospital one side Washington · Washington, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Lt-ED | $412.34 | $778.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke University Hospital Raleigh · Raleigh-Cary, NC Aspirate Pleura W Imaging | $447.12 | $1,656.00 | — source file |
| Duke University Hospital Durham · Durham, NC Aspirate Pleura W Imaging | $447.12 | $1,656.00 | — source file |
| Duke Regional Hospital Durham · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Aspirate Pleura W Imaging | $447.12 | $1,656.00 | — source file |
| East Carolina Health-Bertie one side Windsor · Windsor, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Lt-ED | $465.36 | $831.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Vidant Duplin Hospital one side Kenansville · Kenansville, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Rt | $473.76 | $846.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Vidant Edgecombe Hospital one side Tarboro · Rocky Mount, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Rt-ED | $480.48 | $858.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health North Hospital one side Roanoke Rapids · Roanoke Rapids, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Lt-ED | $602.00 | $1,075.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Erlanger Murphy Medical Center Murphy · Murphy, NC HC Thora W Image Guide | $642.60 | $918.00 | Jan 25, 2026 source file |
| The Outer Banks Hospital one side Nags Head · Kill Devil Hills, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Lt | $651.84 | $1,164.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| East Carolina Health one side Ahoskie · Ahoskie, NC Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath, Asp Pleural W/ Imaging-Lt | $680.40 | $1,215.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital Elkin · Mount Airy, NC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $743.50 | $1,487.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Wilkes Regional Medical Center North Wilkesboro · North Wilkesboro, NC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $743.50 | $1,487.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Lexington Medical Center Lexington · Winston-Salem, NC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $1,043.00 | $2,086.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| High Point Regional Health High Point · Greensboro-High Point, NC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $1,327.00 | $2,654.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| AdventHealth Hendersonville Hendersonville · Asheville, NC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,571.00 | $1,571.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Albemarle Regional Medical Center Elizabeth City · Elizabeth City, NC 32555 Thoracentsis W Img Guid | $1,702.00 | $3,404.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Bermuda Run · Winston-Salem, NC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $1,882.50 | $3,765.00 | Oct 21, 2025 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Winston Salem · Winston-Salem, NC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,986.50 | $3,973.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| AdventHealth Polk Columbus · Columbus, NC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,035.11 | $2,035.11 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Anson Wadesboro · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $2,556.53 | $5,113.05 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Cleveland Shelby · Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $2,556.53 | $5,113.05 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Lincoln Lincolnton · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,556.53 | $5,113.05 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Pineville Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $2,556.53 | $5,113.05 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Union Monroe · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $2,556.53 | $5,113.05 | Dec 4, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,556.53 | $5,113.05 | Dec 4, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast Concord · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,556.53 | $5,113.05 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $2,556.53 | $5,113.05 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Belmont · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $2,556.53 | $5,113.05 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Concord · Concord, NC HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,556.53 | $5,113.05 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Stanly Regional Medical Center Albermarle · Albemarle, NC HC ER THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING | $2,663.00 | $5,326.00 | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Gastonia · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG ER THORACENTESIS PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,936.00 | $2,936.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Mount Holly · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG ER THORACENTESIS PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,936.00 | $2,936.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Belmont · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG ER THORACENTESIS PLEURA W/IMAGING | $2,936.00 | $2,936.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 12 | $373.41 | $2,556.53 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 3 | $1,043.00 | $1,882.50 |
| Ahoskie, NC | 1 | $680.40 | $680.40 |
| Albemarle, NC | 1 | $2,663.00 | $2,663.00 |
| Asheville, NC | 1 | $1,571.00 | $1,571.00 |
| Columbus, NC | 1 | $2,035.11 | $2,035.11 |
| Concord, NC | 1 | $2,556.53 | $2,556.53 |
| Durham, NC | 1 | $447.12 | $447.12 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 1 | $447.12 | $447.12 |
| Edenton, NC | 1 | $398.16 | $398.16 |
| Elizabeth City, NC | 1 | $1,702.00 | $1,702.00 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 1 | $1,327.00 | $1,327.00 |
| Greenville, NC | 1 | $412.34 | $412.34 |
| Kenansville, NC | 1 | $473.76 | $473.76 |
| Kill Devil Hills, NC | 1 | $651.84 | $651.84 |
| Murphy, NC | 1 | $642.60 | $642.60 |
| Mount Airy, NC | 1 | $743.50 | $743.50 |
| North Wilkesboro, NC | 1 | $743.50 | $743.50 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1 | $447.12 | $447.12 |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | 1 | $602.00 | $602.00 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 1 | $480.48 | $480.48 |
| Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 1 | $2,556.53 | $2,556.53 |
| Windsor, NC | 1 | $465.36 | $465.36 |
| Washington, NC | 1 | $412.34 | $412.34 |
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.
Thoracentesis with imaging guidance in other states
- Alabama$3,129.16
- Alaska$2,541.24
- Arizona$5,748.00
- Arkansas$809.60
- California$2,033.20
- Colorado$4,893.55
- Connecticut$847.92
- Delaware$1,784.75
- Florida$2,001.98
- Georgia$2,939.04
- Hawaii$925.80
- Idaho$1,672.00
- Illinois$960.00
- Indiana$1,219.40
- Iowa$766.40
- Kansas$3,616.60
- Kentucky$2,895.22
- Louisiana$646.80
- Maine$377.30
- Maryland$1,580.35
- Massachusetts$1,645.70
- Michigan$1,084.15
- Minnesota$1,045.58
- Mississippi$643.32
- Missouri$720.85
- Montana$447.99
- Nebraska$630.87
- Nevada$1,231.80
- New Hampshire$820.64
- New Jersey$818.31
- New Mexico$934.15
- New York$737.31
- North Dakota$599.76
- Ohio$1,825.53
- Oklahoma$673.55
- Oregon$868.70
- Pennsylvania$1,425.60
- Rhode Island$2,700.00
- South Carolina$1,486.25
- South Dakota$1,842.00
- Tennessee$487.08
- Texas$1,325.03
- Utah$1,348.18
- Vermont$500.00
- Virginia$1,659.00
- Washington$1,366.08
- West Virginia$1,626.31
- Wisconsin$1,150.00
- Wyoming$727.08
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.