Lower back MRI with contrast cost in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, 17 hospitals publish a cash price for MRI of the lower back, without and then with contrast dye: from $757.55 to $10,194.00, with a median of $3,158.25. The lowest price is at Boston Medical Center South (Brockton). The highest price is 13.5× the lowest.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 72158. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 23, 2026.
Hospitals in Massachusetts, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Medical Center South lowest Brockton · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH HC Chg MRI Spinal Canal Lumbar W/O & W/Contr Matrl | $757.55 | $1,683.45 | — source file |
| Boston Medical Center Brighton Boston · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH HC Chg MRI Spinal Canal Lumbar W/O & W/Contr Matrl | $844.62 | $1,876.94 | — source file |
| The Mercy Hospital Springfield · Springfield, MA PR MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Contrast Followed by Contrast Material | $854.64 | — | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Melrosewakefield Healthcare Melrose · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH HC MRI Lumb Spine W & WO Contr | $1,435.70 | $2,051.00 | — source file |
| Tufts Medical Center Boston · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH HC MRI Lumb Spine W & WO Contr | $1,908.90 | $2,727.00 | — source file |
| Boston Medical Center Boston · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH HC Chg MRI Spinal Canal Lumbar W/O & W/Contr Matrl | $2,637.90 | $5,862.00 | — source file |
| Lowell General Hospital Lowell · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH HC MRI Lumb Spine W & WO Contr | $2,760.80 | $3,944.00 | — source file |
| Holyoke Medical Center Holyoke · Springfield, MA MRI lumbar spine w/o & w/dye | $3,074.00 | $3,074.00 | — source file |
| Berkshire Medical Center Pittsfield · Pittsfield, MA MRI L Spine w/wo Cntrst | $3,158.25 | $3,324.47 | Mar 25, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Hospital Great Barrington · Pittsfield, MA MRI L Spine w/wo Cntrst | $3,158.25 | $3,324.47 | Mar 25, 2026 source file |
| North Adams Regional Hospital North Adams · Pittsfield, MA MRI L Spine w/wo Cntrst | $3,158.25 | $3,324.47 | Mar 25, 2026 source file |
| Milford Regional Medical Center Milford · Worcester, MA Mri lumbar spine w/o & w/dye | $3,303.00 | $3,303.00 | — source file |
| Cambridge Health Alliance Cambridge · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH HC MRI-Lumbar Spine W/O & W/ Con | $3,453.00 | $3,453.00 | — source file |
| HealthAlliance - Clinton Hospital Leominster · Worcester, MA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Fol W Cont | $4,079.00 | $4,079.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| UMass Memorial Health - Harrington Hospital Southbridge · Worcester, MA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Fol W Cont | $5,352.00 | $5,352.00 | Apr 3, 2026 source file |
| UMass Memorial Medical Center Worcester · Worcester, MA HC MRI Lumbar Spine W/O Fol W Cont | $5,423.00 | $5,423.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Shriners Childrens - Boston Boston · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH MRI LUMBAR SPINE W/O & W/DYE | $10,194.00 | $10,194.00 | — source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 8 | $757.55 | $2,273.40 |
| Worcester, MA | 4 | $3,303.00 | $4,715.50 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 3 | $3,158.25 | $3,158.25 |
| Springfield, MA | 2 | $854.64 | $1,964.32 |
What it is
This MRI of the lumbar spine takes one set of pictures without contrast dye and a second set after the dye is injected into a vein. The dye helps tell scar tissue from a new disc problem after back surgery and can show infection, inflammation or tumors.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers both sets of images; the contrast agent may appear as a separate line on some bills. The radiologist's reading is often billed separately.
MRI of the lower back, without and then with contrast dye in other states
- Alabama$3,949.76
- Alaska$3,428.10
- Arizona$1,098.94
- Arkansas$902.85
- California$3,783.24
- Colorado$1,512.80
- Connecticut$2,411.27
- Delaware$3,788.10
- Florida$3,659.37
- Georgia$2,370.03
- Hawaii$2,037.60
- Idaho$2,263.00
- Illinois$2,767.50
- Indiana$1,527.41
- Iowa$2,413.35
- Kansas$3,053.70
- Kentucky$4,317.77
- Louisiana$1,252.26
- Maine$2,591.25
- Maryland$826.38
- Michigan$2,638.00
- Minnesota$1,861.38
- Mississippi$1,753.29
- Missouri$2,496.33
- Montana$2,787.34
- Nebraska$1,966.02
- Nevada$2,926.43
- New Hampshire$2,814.63
- New Jersey$476.54
- New Mexico$2,105.08
- New York$1,557.00
- North Carolina$2,656.05
- North Dakota$2,884.67
- Ohio$2,123.55
- Oklahoma$1,537.48
- Oregon$2,757.88
- Pennsylvania$2,915.10
- Puerto Rico$985.00
- Rhode Island$1,823.70
- South Carolina$2,265.90
- South Dakota$4,207.60
- Tennessee$953.70
- Texas$3,196.33
- Utah$2,845.91
- Vermont$3,957.52
- Virginia$3,315.50
- Washington$3,206.98
- West Virginia$1,949.50
- Wisconsin$2,700.06
- Wyoming$1,841.03
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.