Thoracentesis cost in South Carolina
In South Carolina, 16 hospitals publish a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $608.50 to $3,359.50, with a median of $1,486.25. The lowest price is at MUSC Health Marion Medical Center (Mullins). The highest price is 5.5× 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 23, 2026.
Lowest$608.50MUSC Health Marion Medical Center
Median$1,486.25half pay less
Highest$3,359.50in South Carolina
Lowest saves$877.75vs the median
Hospitals in South Carolina, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUSC Health Marion Medical Center lowest Mullins · Mullins, SC HB THORACENTESIS,ASPIRATE W IMG | $608.50 | $1,217.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Northeast Columbia · Columbia, SC HB THORACENTESIS,ASPIRATE W IMG | $682.00 | $1,364.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Musc Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown Columbia · Columbia, SC HB THORACENTESIS,ASPIRATE W IMG | $682.00 | $1,364.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Beaufort Memorial Hospital Beaufort · Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC THORACENTESIS FOR ASPIRATION R | $840.00 | $1,400.00 | — source file |
| MUSC Chester Regional Medical Center Chester · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HB THORACENTESIS,ASPIRATE W IMG | $970.00 | $1,940.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MUSC Health Black River Medical Center Cades · Cades, SC HB THORACENTESIS,ASPIRATE W IMG | $1,134.50 | $2,269.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kershaw Medical Center Camden · Columbia, SC HB THORACENTESIS,ASPIRATE W IMG | $1,241.50 | $2,483.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Francis Hospital Greenville · Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $1,404.00 | $2,340.00 | — source file |
| MUSC Medical Center Charleston · Charleston-North Charleston, SC HB THORACENTESIS,ASPIRATE W IMG | $1,568.50 | $3,137.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Medical University Hospital Authority Orangeburg · Orangeburg, SC HB THORACENTESIS,ASPIRATE W IMG | $1,568.50 | $3,137.00 | — source file |
| Bon Secours St Francis Xavier Hospital Charleston · Charleston-North Charleston, SC HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $2,338.70 | $3,598.00 | — source file |
| Roper Hospital Charleston · Charleston-North Charleston, SC HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $2,338.70 | $3,598.00 | — source file |
| Roper St Francis Hospital Berkeley Summerville · Charleston-North Charleston, SC HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $2,338.70 | $3,598.00 | — source file |
| Roper St Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital Mount Pleasant · Charleston-North Charleston, SC HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $2,338.70 | $3,598.00 | — source file |
| MUSC Health Florence Medical Center Florence · Florence, SC HB THORACENTESIS,ASPIRATE W IMG | $2,645.50 | $5,291.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MUSC Lancaster Medical Center Lancaster · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HB THORACENTESIS,ASPIRATE W IMG | $3,359.50 | $6,719.00 | Apr 1, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 5 | $1,568.50 | $2,338.70 |
| Columbia, SC | 3 | $682.00 | $682.00 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 2 | $970.00 | $2,164.75 |
| Cades, SC | 1 | $1,134.50 | $1,134.50 |
| Florence, SC | 1 | $2,645.50 | $2,645.50 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 1 | $1,404.00 | $1,404.00 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | 1 | $840.00 | $840.00 |
| Mullins, SC | 1 | $608.50 | $608.50 |
| Orangeburg, SC | 1 | $1,568.50 | $1,568.50 |
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 Carolina$1,571.00
- North Dakota$599.76
- Ohio$1,825.53
- Oklahoma$673.55
- Oregon$868.70
- Pennsylvania$1,425.60
- Rhode Island$2,700.00
- 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.