Costs of an MRI examination of the sacroiliac joint | MRI of the sacroiliac joint

Costs of an MRI examination of the sacroiliac joint

The exact costs of an MRI of the ISG cannot be determined exactly, because they depend on different factors. On the one hand, the patient’s health insurance company is decisive, i.e. whether he is privately or publicly insured. Furthermore, other factors can be included in the costs: How many sectional images were made?

Was contrast medium used? How long did the examination take? Usually, an MRI examination by the ISG costs between 400€-800€. In most cases, however, these costs are covered by the health insurance in case of medical indication.

What are the alternatives to MRI of the sacroiliac joint?

If there are contraindications for performing an MRI, for example claustrophobia or a defibrillator, the question of an alternative arises. Do you suffer from claustrophobia and still have to have an MRI? This depends on the question and the indication.

If you have pain in your back or pelvis, an X-ray can also be taken. This allows the bone structures to be examined and arthrosis to be diagnosed. However, this does not allow the soft tissue to be assessed.

Another alternative is CT (computed tomography). Although this also works with ionizing radiation, it can provide a better picture of the bone structures. It also provides sectional images and can help in finding a diagnosis.

This depends on the problem and the indication. In the case of pain in the back or pelvis, an X-ray can also be taken. This allows the bone structures to be examined and arthrosis to be diagnosed.

However, this does not allow the soft tissue to be assessed. Another alternative is CT (computed tomography). Although this also works with ionizing radiation, it can provide a better picture of the bone structures. It also provides sectional images and can help in finding a diagnosis.

How well can an inflammation be seen in an MRI examination of the sacroiliac joint?

An MRI of the lumbar spine (lumbar spine) and the sacroiliac joint (ISG) can be performed together. To do this, the patient is simply moved a little further into the tube on the couch. In a single ISG image, the lumbar spine is usually partially imaged.

If the lumbar spine is to be examined at the same time, sectional images up to the lower thoracic spine are taken. In this way both the lumbar spine and the ISG can be assessed. This is particularly useful if a herniated disc of the lumbar spine is to be excluded as the cause of the pain.