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?
$214
Typical physician fee. In Rhode Island, July 2026.
Insurers have agreed to pay about $214 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $135 to $240.
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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.
How much rates vary
Facilitymedian $1,698 · 10th to 90th $575 to $5,495Professionalmedian $182 · 10th to 90th $110 to $240
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 LowTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
MedianTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Typical HighTypical Low is the 10th percentile of the published rates, Median the 50th, and Typical High the 90th. One in ten rates falls below Typical Low, and one in ten falls above Typical High.
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$977.24
Median
$2,041.74
Typical High
$5,495.41
Facility
Global
$977.24
$2,041.74
$5,495.41
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$239.88
Professional
Global
$109.65
$162.18
$239.88
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$275.42
Professional
Global
$151.36
$181.97
$275.42
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$295.12
Professional
Global
$117.49
$218.78
$295.12
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$1,412.54
Typical High
$5,128.61
Facility
Global
$436.52
$1,412.54
$5,128.61
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$269.15
Professional
Global
$123.03
$190.55
$269.15
Where Rhode Island 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.