MRI joint upper extremity without contrast
CPT 73221 • Imaging
If you're paying cash
$238 – $1,377
Posted cash price at 6 hospitals in North Carolina. Hospitals must publish these; ask for the self-pay or cash price by name when you call.
See what your plan negotiated
Lowest
$17
Typical
$206
Highest
$3,098
96,390 negotiated rates from NC hospitals. These are what insurers pay, not what you would be billed.
About this procedure
An MRI of the shoulder without contrast — looks at the rotator cuff, labrum, and surrounding tendons.
What to expect
30-45 minutes in the MRI machine, lying still on your back. Standard MRI safety screening: no metal implants, pacemaker, or recent stents. Like all MRIs, prices vary 3-5x between facilities — outpatient imaging centers are usually the best value.