How much does a CT scan cost?
How much does a CT scan cost?
$300 – $2,000 scan cost without insurance (imaging facility)
$500 – $7,000+ CT scan cost without insurance (hospital)
Average CT scan cost
A CT scan costs $300 to $2,000 without insurance at an outpatient imaging facility or $500 to $7,000+ at a hospital. The cost of a CT scan depends on your location, radiologist and facility fees, the body part being scanned, and whether the scan is done with or without contrast.
| CT scan type | Average cost at an imaging center* |
Average cost a a hospital* |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominal / pelvic | $500 – $1,500 | $650 – $7,000+ |
| Brain | $350 – $1,400 | $500 – $5,000 |
| Sinus / maxillofacial | $400 – $1,300 | $600 – $6,000 |
| Head & neck | $500 – $1,600 | $600 – $6,500 |
| Neck | $400 – $1,300 | $800 – $5,600 |
| Neck & spine | $500 – $1,600 | $600 – $6,500 |
| Lumbar spine | $300 – $1,400 | $500 – $6,200 |
| Chest / lungs | $320 – $1,600 | $700 – $6,500 |
| Thoracic | $300 – $1,200 | $600 – $6,000 |
| Heart / cardiac | $500 – $2,000 | $800 – $6,500+ |
| Upper extremities (shoulder, arm, hand, wrist) |
$250 – $800 | $500 – $3,000 |
| Lower extremities (hip, leg, knee, foot, ankle) |
$300 – $1,200 | $500 – $5,500 |
*Without insurance
Ask for the discounted "self-pay" or cash price if paying for a CT scan without insurance. The self-pay price for uninsured patients is typically lower than what hospitals and imaging centers bill health insurance providers.
What is a CT scan?
A computed tomography (CT) scan is a painless, noninvasive imaging test used to show the body's internal structures. A CT scan allows doctors to examine organs, bones, blood vessels, and soft tissues in great detail and provides a clearer view of body structures that overlap with standard X-rays.
CT scans use X-rays to create images of your body. However, unlike a stationary X-ray tube that creates a flat image, the CT machine rotates around your body to take dozens of images from different angles. Computer software then converts these images into comprehensive, cross-sectional views of the body.
What is a CT scan used for?
Healthcare providers use CT scans for a wide range of diagnostic and monitoring purposes, including:
Detecting certain types of cancer and monitoring the treatment
Detecting and diagnosing tumors
Diagnosing bone fractures and abnormalities
Detecting internal injuries, bleeding, aneurysms, and blood clots
Examining organ damage
Identifying infections
Diagnosing heart disease and monitoring the treatment
Diagnosing lung diseases and monitoring the treatment
Examining brain damage after a head injury
Identifying and visualizing obstructions
Determining the cause of unexplained pain
Detecting spinal stenosis or herniated discs
What is a CT scan with contrast?
A CT scan with contrast uses a special dye that is injected intravenously or swallowed before the scan. The contrast material helps certain tissues and organs appear brighter in the images, making them easier for doctors to analyze.
Your doctor may advise you to avoid solid foods for up to four hours before a CT scan with contrast. They may also instruct you to drink plenty of clear fluids before and after the scan to help your body eliminate the contrast material more quickly afterward.
What does a CT scan show?
A CT scan can show detailed images of the body's internal structures, including:
Organs like the brain, heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys
Muscles, tendons, and ligaments
Blood vessels
Lymph nodes
Bones
What can CT scans detect?
CT scans can help healthcare providers detect a variety of medical conditions, including but not limited to:
Cancer
Heart disease
Lung diseases like pneumonia
Internal bleeding
Blood clots and aneurysms
Bone fractures and tumors
How long does a CT scan take?
The length of a CT scan depends on the part of the body being scanned and whether the scan involves a contrast solution. The scan itself typically takes only 10 to 15 minutes. However, the entire process, including preparation and positioning, may take 15 to 30 minutes or more.
A CT scan without contrast takes 10 to 15 minutes.
A CT scan with intravenous (IV) contrast takes 15 to 30 minutes.
A CT scan with oral contrast can take up to 1 hour and 15 minutes.
For abdominal and pelvis CT scans, the facility will typically require you to arrive one to two hours before your appointment to drink an oral contrast solution called barium and give the liquid enough time to reach your abdomen.
What impacts the cost of a CT scan?
The following factors affect the cost of a CT scan:
Insurance: Your out-of-pocket costs for a CT scan will be significantly higher if you are uninsured, have a high-deductible insurance plan, or choose an out-of-network imaging facility. For insured patients, your final cost depends on your plan's deductible and copay.
Body part: The body part scanned impacts the length of the CT scan and the number of images needed, as well as the time it takes the radiologist to interpret the results. CT scans of more complex areas, like the heart or abdominal organs, typically cost more than simpler scans.
Contrast: A CT scan with contrast dye costs $100 to $300 more than one without contrast.
Facility: CT scans cost less at outpatient imaging centers and urgent care clinics than at hospitals and other inpatient facilities.
Radiologist reading: The imaging facility or hospital may bill you separately for a radiologist to review your scan and interpret the results.
CT scan vs. MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is another diagnostic imaging technique that provides detailed pictures of your body's interior. While both CT scans and MRIs are valuable diagnostic tools, they have some key differences:
Technology: A CT scan uses X-rays, while an MRI utilizes strong magnetic fields and radio waves. An MRI produces more detailed images of soft tissues, blood vessels, and the brain, but CT scans typically show the bones more clearly. An MRI can show certain diseases a CT scan can't detect, such as prostate cancer and uterine cancer.
Speed & comfort: CT scans are generally faster than MRIs. Your doctor may recommend a CT scan when speed is crucial or if you have claustrophobia due to the enclosed nature of an MRI machine.
Cost: An MRI costs $350 to $2,500 without insurance at an imaging center or $500 to $6,000+ at a hospital, depending on the body part being scanned.
Ultimately, the choice between a CT scan and an MRI depends on the specific medical condition being investigated and your doctor's recommendation.
PET scan vs. CT scan
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is another type of imaging test used for diagnosing and monitoring certain medical conditions. Here's a breakdown of how PET scans differ from CT scans:
Technology: PET scans use radioactive tracers injected into the body to measure metabolic activity. CT scans use a series of X-rays.
Suitability: PET scans are particularly useful for detecting cancer and evaluating its spread. CT scans are more versatile for examining a wider range of anatomical structures and internal injuries.
Cost: PET scans are generally more expensive than CT scans due to the cost of the radioactive tracers. Without insurance, a PET scan costs $1,200 to $6,000 at an imaging center or $4,000 to $18,000 at a hospital.
Combination scan: Sometimes, doctors combine a PET scan with a CT scan (PET-CT scan) to provide both functional and anatomical information. A combination PET-CT scan is even more expensive than a standalone PET or CT scan.
CT scan FAQs
How long do CT scan results take?
After your CT scan, a radiologist reviews and interprets the images and prepares a report explaining the findings. Your doctor will typically receive the results within 24 to 48 hours.
In emergency situations, such as in a hospital emergency room, the doctor often receives the results within an hour or less.
Can you eat before a CT scan?
Many CT scans do not require fasting in advance. However, you should not eat solid foods for 4 hours before your appointment if you are having an abdominal or pelvic CT scan or if the scan involves intravenous or oral contrast. Follow your doctor's specific instructions regarding food and drink.
Is a CT scan the same as a CAT scan?
A CT scan is the same thing as a CAT scan. CT stands for "computed tomography", and CAT stands for "computed axial tomography". However, both terms describe the same diagnostic imaging test.
Are CT scans safe?
A CT scan exposes your body to ionizing radiation in higher amounts than a standard X-ray. Research indicates a CT scan may lead to a 0.05% increase in the chance of developing cancer. However, the effects of ionizing radiation add up over your lifetime, and your risk increases with each additional CT scan.
What to look for in an imaging facility
When selecting an imaging facility near you for a CT scan, follow these guidelines:
Ask your doctor for a prescription or referral.
Contact multiple imaging facilities for quotes.
Ask if the facility accepts your health insurance. If yes, confirm the facility is in-network on your specific plan.
If you are uninsured, ask the facility about their discounted self-pay price.
Confirm the facility is approved by the American College of Radiology.
Confirm the radiologists and technicians on staff are board-certified or registered in CT scans.
Read online reviews from past patients.
Bring a copy of the prescription from your doctor or contact the facility before your appointment to confirm they've received a digitally transmitted copy.
Questions to ask the imaging facility
Ask the CT imaging facility these important questions when scheduling your appointment:
Do you accept my health insurance?
What will my out-of-pocket cost be?
How long will the CT scan take?
Will the CT scan involve contrast dye?
Can I eat or drink before the scan?
What should I wear for the scan?
Are there any safety issues that make me ineligible for a CT scan?
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