Elbow MRI, 2026

Elbow MRI Cost: Tennis Elbow, UCL & MR Arthrogram Prices 2026

Q: When is elbow MRI indicated?

Elbow MRI is commonly ordered for lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) not responding to conservative care, suspected ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury in throwing athletes, suspected biceps or triceps tendon tears, suspected loose bodies in the elbow joint, ulnar-neuritis evaluation at the cubital tunnel, and pre-surgical planning for elbow arthroscopy. Per ACR Appropriateness Criteria, MRI is the imaging study of choice for chronic elbow pain when initial X-rays are unrevealing and symptoms have persisted beyond 4 to 6 weeks.

Q: What is an MR arthrogram of the elbow?

MR arthrogram of the elbow is an MRI performed after image-guided injection of dilute gadolinium directly into the elbow joint. It is considered the imaging gold standard for partial-thickness UCL tears in pitchers and javelin throwers and for evaluation of osteochondral lesions of the capitellum. The injection adds £200 to £400 in the UK and $500 to $1,500 in the US on top of the base MRI fee. Most UK clinics quote bundled MR arthrogram pricing; US billing is split.

Q: What CPT code applies?

Elbow MRI uses CPT 73221 (without contrast), 73222 (with IV contrast), or 73223 (with and without). MR arthrogram combines 73222 with the joint-injection code 24220 plus an image-guidance code (77002 fluoro guidance or 76942 ultrasound guidance). 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule national average for CPT 73221 at a non-facility setting is roughly $221 for the global service.

Q: How long does the scan take?

Standard elbow MRI without contrast takes 25 to 35 minutes scanner time. With contrast adds 10 to 15 minutes. MR arthrogram adds 30 to 45 minutes for the injection procedure (image-guided injection plus 10 to 15 minute wait for contrast to distribute through the joint). Patients are positioned with the arm extended and slightly externally rotated; the scanner table is loaded to accommodate the position.

Q: What's the cheapest route in the US?

Cash pay at an independent imaging centre is almost always the cheapest US route. Call three local centres, identify as self-pay, ask each for the cash-pay rate for CPT 73221. MDsave aggregates pre-negotiated cash prices often 30 to 50 percent below standard self-pay. RadiologyAssist quotes elbow MRI from around $325 for income-qualified self-pay patients.

Elbow MRI is a focused, relatively quick scan that drives a lot of sports-medicine and orthopaedic referrals, particularly in throwing athletes and racquet-sport players. UK private prices start around £275. US prices span $400 at a freestanding imaging centre to $4,500 at a hospital outpatient department for the identical scan code.

Elbow MRI at a Glance

NHS (UK)

FREE

6 to 18 week routine wait

Private (UK)

£275 to £625

MR arthrogram from £475

US, imaging centre

$400 to $1,600

Cash-pay rate

US, hospital

$1,500 to $4,500

Plus facility fee

What an elbow MRI shows

The elbow joint is the articulation between the humerus, ulna and radius, surrounded by an extensive complex of ligaments (notably the ulnar and radial collateral ligaments), tendons (common flexor and extensor origins, distal biceps, distal triceps), and nerves (ulnar nerve at the cubital tunnel, radial nerve in the radial tunnel, median nerve crossing the joint). Per Radiopaedia's elbow MRI protocol article, standard non-contrast protocol uses sagittal, coronal and axial T1 plus fat-saturated PD sequences.

The radiologist reports on tendon integrity (with attention to common-extensor-origin pathology for tennis elbow and common-flexor-origin pathology for golfer's elbow), ligament integrity (especially UCL for throwers), articular-surface cartilage, any osteochondral lesions, loose bodies in the joint, ulnar-nerve cross-sectional area at the cubital tunnel, and bone-marrow signal in the distal humerus and proximal radius and ulna.

MR arthrogram changes what is visible by distending the joint capsule with dilute gadolinium, which makes partial-thickness UCL tears, intra-articular loose bodies, and subtle osteochondral lesions much easier to detect. For the population of throwing athletes (baseball pitchers, cricket bowlers, javelin throwers) considered for surgical UCL reconstruction (Tommy John surgery), MR arthrogram is essentially standard pre-operative workup.

UK elbow MRI pricing

UK private elbow MRI without contrast as of May 2026: Vista Health from £275 in regional centres and £350 in London; Nuffield Health from £375 nationally; Spire Healthcare from £350; Bupa from £425; OneWelbeck (London MSK specialist) from £525. Self-referral allowed at every major provider.

MR arthrogram of the elbow is more specialised and is offered at fewer centres. Vista Health offers it at selected regional sites from £475; Nuffield from £650; Spire from £625; OneWelbeck from £825. The injection portion requires an experienced musculoskeletal radiologist or sports physician.

For UK NHS patients, elbow MRI is free with referral. Routine waits run 6 to 18 weeks. Throwing-athlete UCL workups are usually expedited through sports-medicine or orthopaedic upper-limb clinics, which may have shorter wait pathways.

US elbow MRI pricing

FAIR Health Consumer price-lookup data for CPT 73221 in major US metros in early 2026 shows median cash-pay rate at an independent imaging centre around $650 and at a hospital outpatient department around $2,300. The freestanding-to-hospital gap consistently runs 3x to 6x for the same scan code.

For commercial-insurance patients with a met deductible, typical out-of-pocket is $50 to $400 after pre-authorisation. For high-deductible plans before deductible is met, the negotiated in-network rate applies and freestanding centres usually beat hospitals by 60 to 80 percent. For uninsured patients, the independent-centre cash-pay rate is the cheapest route.

For US baseball pitchers and other throwing athletes, elbow MR arthrogram for UCL evaluation is commonly part of pre-surgical workup before Tommy John reconstruction. Total cash-pay bundled pricing for MR arthrogram typically runs $1,100 to $2,400 at an independent musculoskeletal-imaging centre and $3,500 to $7,500 at a hospital outpatient department. The savings from choosing a freestanding MSK-imaging specialist over a hospital are often several thousand dollars per scan for this procedure.

Sources used on this page

CMS Physician Fee Schedule, 2026
FAIR Health Consumer CPT 73221 pricing
Radiopaedia elbow MRI protocol
ACR Appropriateness Criteria, chronic elbow pain
Vista Health, Nuffield, Spire, Bupa, OneWelbeck public prices, May 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an elbow MRI cost?

Elbow MRI costs £275 to £625 at most UK private clinics. In the US it costs $400 to $1,600 at an independent imaging centre and $1,500 to $4,500 at a hospital outpatient department for the identical scan. NHS elbow MRI is free with a GP, A&E or specialist referral.

When is elbow MRI indicated?

What is an MR arthrogram of the elbow?

What CPT code applies?

How long does the scan take?

What's the cheapest route in the US?

Cost information only, not medical advice.

This page describes typical 2026 elbow MRI pricing. Imaging decisions should be made with a qualified clinician.

Elbow MRI Cost: Tennis Elbow, UCL & MR Arthrogram Prices 2026

Elbow MRI at a Glance

What an elbow MRI shows

UK elbow MRI pricing

US elbow MRI pricing

Sources used on this page

Frequently Asked Questions

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