MRI joint lower extremity without contrast
CPT 73721 • Imaging
If you're paying cash
$238 – $1,282
Posted cash price at 4 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
$13
Typical
$206
Highest
$3,199
142,288 negotiated rates from NC hospitals. These are what insurers pay, not what you would be billed.
About this procedure
An MRI of the knee without contrast — detailed images of the cartilage, ligaments (ACL/MCL), and meniscus. The standard test for sports knee injuries.
What to expect
30-45 minutes lying still in the MRI tube. No prep, no needle (since this is the without-contrast version). Tell the tech if you're claustrophobic — open MRIs and sedation are options. Imaging-center prices are typically 50-70% lower than hospital-based MRI for the same scan.