Dye Injection For Lymph Vessel Imaging

Nationwide rates for HCPCS 38790

Covers injecting a contrast dye into a lymph vessel so the lymph channels and the glands they drain into show up on X-ray pictures. A tiny vessel, often in the foot or hand, has to be found and cannulated first, which is the demanding part of the work. The pictures are used to map lymph drainage or to find a leak or blockage.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Dye Injection For Lymph Vessel Imaging cost?

$2,239

Typical negotiated rate. Nationwide, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,239 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $120 from a physician practice, and about $2,455 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 50 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed by	Who charges it	Typical	Range
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider	A doctor's office, clinic or independent provider	$120	$87.10 to $200
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department	A hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department	$2,455	$525 to $4,786

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,455 · 10th to 90th $110 to $8,511Professionalmedian $120 · 10th to 90th $78 to $447

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier	Facility/Professional	Modifier	Typical Low	Median	Typical High
Aetna Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $269.15 Median $3,019.95 Typical High $9,772.37	Facility	Global	$269.15	$3,019.95	$9,772.37
Aetna Setting Facility Modifier 50 · Both sides Typical Low $416.87 Median $851.14 Typical High $5,248.07	Facility	50 · Both sides	$416.87	$851.14	$5,248.07
BCBS Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $1,513.56 Median $3,890.45 Typical High $10,715.19	Facility	Global	$1,513.56	$3,890.45	$10,715.19
Cigna Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $91.20 Median $186.21 Typical High $660.69	Facility	Global	$91.20	$186.21	$660.69
United Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $218.78 Median $1,122.02 Typical High $3,630.78	Facility	Global	$218.78	$1,122.02	$3,630.78

What it costs in each state

The same service costs 67.6 times more in New Jersey than in West Virginia. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Touch or drag across the chart to see any state's rate.

NJ $5,370WV $79.43

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.