Imaging · CPT 72148

What is CPT code 72148?

MRI of the lower (lumbar) spine, without contrast.

By Justin Feldstein · Reviewed 2026-06-15

What it covers

An MRI scan of the lower part of your back, done without any injected dye. MRI uses a strong magnet and radio waves rather than X-rays to produce detailed pictures of the discs, vertebrae, nerves, and soft tissue in the lumbar region. The 'without contrast' part means no dye was given, which is the standard starting point for most back-pain workups.

When you'd see it

Commonly ordered for persistent lower-back pain, sciatica, numbness or weakness in the legs, or to look for a herniated disc or narrowing of the spinal canal when symptoms don't improve.

Roughly what it costs

$400–$3000 commonly billed

A ballpark on the billed amount. After insurance or a negotiated rate, what you owe is often far lower. Always compare against your Explanation of Benefits (EOB).

What's usually billed with it

MRI is one of the biggest examples of the split bill: a large technical/facility charge for the scanner time, and a separate professional charge for the radiologist who interprets the images, so two line items for one scan is normal.

72148 vs 72149

72148 is without injected dye; 72149 is with contrast, and there's also a 'with and without' version (72158) that combines both, so the code should match whether you actually got a dye injection. See 72149 (MRI lumbar spine WITH contrast).

What to watch for

Because MRIs are expensive, the technical-vs-professional split matters most here. Two line items (the scan and the reading) is normal; a contrast or injection charge on top of a 'without contrast' scan, or the cost of an additional body region you don't remember being scanned, is worth questioning.

Specific things to question

• Billed as a 'with and without contrast' study (72158) when you never received a contrast injection.
• A separate injection or contrast-supply charge appearing even though this is the no-contrast code.
• The same MRI read and billed by two different radiologists.

How to check this charge on your own bill

Find 72148 on your itemized bill and match it against your EOB. Confirm it appears only once, that any bundled services aren't also billed separately, and that the amount matches what your insurer says it allowed. If something doesn't line up, that's a fair question for the billing office.