Lumbar spine MRI
Prices from the public price lists of 3 clinics; comparison prices include the service fee and the Kanta fee. The cheapest price in the comparison is at Mehiläinen: from €399.00, €134.90 less than the most expensive.
- Cheapest
- from €399.00Mehiläinen
- Most expensive
- €533.90Aava
- Difference
- €134.9034 % more
- Checked
- 16/10/2026from 3 price lists
Prices by clinic
| Provider | Price with fees | List price | Price list line | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mehiläinen | from €399.00 | from €399.00fees included | Magnetic resonance imagingMehiläinen price list | 16/10/2026 |
| Terveystalo | €427.60 | €427.60fees included | MRI examination of the lumbar spine, any scopeTerveystalo price list | 16/10/2026 |
| Aava | €533.90 | €495.00+ fees €38.90 | Magneettitutkimus Kamppi (3T) raajojen, nivelten, rangan ja peruslaajuinen pään magneetti Tarvittaessa varjoaine laskutetaan erikseenFIAava price list | 16/10/2026 |
| Pihlajalinna | – | – | No matching line in the price list. | – |
Good to know
- Aava and Pihlajalinna add the service fee and the Kanta fee to their list prices; they are added to the comparison price. Terveystalo's and Mehiläinen's list prices include the fees.
- "from" means a starting price: the final price depends on the doctor, the scope or additional procedures.
- Some providers price several examinations on the same line; the price list line is shown in the table.
- Lines marked FI are in Finnish: the provider has no English version of them.
- The prices come from the providers' public price lists, checked 16/10/2026. Check the final price in the provider's booking.
- Remote appointment3050 available
- Espoo302 available
- Helsinki1419 available
- Hyvinkää56 available
- Hämeenlinna79 available
- Iisalmi16 available
- Imatranone available
- Joensuu138 available
- Jyväskylä219 available
- Järvenpää59 available
- Kajaani5 available
- Kerava15 available
- Kirkkonummi7 available
- Kokkola56 available
- Kotka66 available
- Kouvola38 available
- Kuopio339 available
- Lahti133 available
- Lappeenranta21 available
- Lohja20 available
- Mikkeli25 available
- Oulu466 available
- Pori82 available
- Porvoo79 available
- Rauma18 available
- Rovaniemi156 available
- Salo27 available
- Savonlinna21 available
- Seinäjoki27 available
- Tampere609 available
- Turku905 available
- Vaasa55 available
- Vantaa271 available
When is a lumbar spine MRI needed?
A lumbar spine MRI shows the vertebrae, discs and nerve roots. According to the Current Care Guideline, acute or other temporary low back pain does not need imaging when there are no signs of serious disease; when imaging is needed, MRI is the first-line examination.
MRI creates images with a magnetic field and radio waves, without X-rays. The scan usually takes 15–30 minutes. A pacemaker or metal fragments near the eyes can prevent the scan, so mention them when booking.
A lumbar spine MRI is done for example for sciatica that has lasted more than six weeks and limits daily life when surgery or a nerve root block is considered, or when a serious back disease is suspected.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the cheapest lumbar spine MRI?
The cheapest price in the comparison is at Mehiläinen, from €399.00 including fees. Others: Terveystalo €427.60, Aava €533.90. Prices from public price lists, checked 16/10/2026; check the final price when booking.
Do I need a referral for a lumbar spine MRI?
It varies: some providers require a doctor's referral, others accept self-paying patients without one. Check the provider's page. Kela reimburses the scan only when certain specialists ordered it, so usually there is no reimbursement.
Does an MRI hurt or involve radiation?
It does not hurt and involves no X-rays. The machine is loud, and you need to lie still.
Sources
- Current Care Guidelines (in Finnish): Low back pain
- Terveyskirjasto (in Finnish): Low back pain (patient version)
- Terveyskirjasto (in Finnish): Magnetic resonance imaging
- Kela (in Finnish): Reimbursements for private medical care