go back

Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping During Surgery

Washington, DC rates for HCPCS 38900

During a cancer operation the surgical team traces and identifies the first lymph node or nodes that fluid draining from the tumor would reach, known as the sentinel node, so that node can be found and checked for cancer spread. A dye injected at the site may be used to trace the path, and tracing methods such as a radioactive tracer may be used instead or as well. The mapping is billed in addition to the main operation.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping During Surgery cost?

$288

Typical physician fee. In Washington, DC, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $288 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $138 to $1,585.

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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,585 · 10th to 90th $339 to $4,074Professionalmedian $138 · 10th to 90th $35 to $288
$50$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,585professional $138

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
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$4,073.80
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$288.40
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$120.23
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$354.81
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$309.03
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$5,888.44
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$389.05

Where Washington, DC sits

The same service costs 3.1 times more in California than in Vermont. 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.

Washington, DC· 21st of 51

$288

CA $501VT $162

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.