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Nuclear Scan To Locate A Tumor Or Inflammation

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 78831

A radioactive tracer that gathers at abnormal tissue is given, and a camera then rotates around the body to build cross-sectional images showing exactly where it has collected. The pictures show the location and extent of a tumor or an area of inflammation.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Nuclear Scan To Locate A Tumor Or Inflammation cost?

$1,000

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,000 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $1,000 from a physician practice, and about $1,585 from a hospital or other facility.

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.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$1,000$759 to $1,288
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$1,585$575 to $3,311

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,585 · 10th to 90th $575 to $3,311Professionalmedian $1,000 · 10th to 90th $575 to $1,862
$1K$2Kfacility $1,585professional $1,000

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$1,584.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$954.99
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$125.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$831.76
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$257.04
BCBS North Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$954.99
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$1,778.28
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2,137.96
Median
$3,311.31
Typical High
$3,311.31
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$1,949.84
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$245.47
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$691.83
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$1,698.24
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$691.83
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$776.25
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$1,479.11
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$199.53
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$724.44
Median
$891.25
Typical High
$1,288.25
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None (both parts)
Typical Low
$691.83
Median
$1,023.29
Typical High
$1,905.46
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
26 · Professional part
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$245.47
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TC · Technical part
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$912.01
Typical High
$1,659.59
5 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$512.86
Median
$512.86
Typical High
$954.99
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
80 · Assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$380.19
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
81 · Minimal assistant surgeon
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$263.03
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
82 · Assistant surgeon, no resident
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$263.03
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AS · PA/NP assist
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$263.03

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 5.0 times more in Alaska than in Texas. 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.

North Carolina· 20th of 51

$1,000

AK $2,630TX $525

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.