| Centre type | From-price | Referral rule | Report time | Source | Date checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital group (50+ hospitals) (Circle Health Group) | From £347; varies by hospital, quote may be higher | Priced on the scans requested by the professional who referred you | Same day in some cases; otherwise within one week | circlehealthgroup.co.uk | 5 October 2026 |
| Hospital group diagnostic suite (Nuffield Health Manchester Diagnostic Suite) | £400 one part; £538 two parts; £658 three parts (guide prices) | Referral from a registered healthcare professional needed | Results within a few days | nuffieldhealth.com | 5 October 2026 |
| Hospital group hospital (Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital) | £620 one part (guide price) | Referral from a healthcare professional needed | Results to your referrer within a week | nuffieldhealth.com | 5 October 2026 |
| NHS trust private patient tariff (Dorset County Hospital NHS FT, private patients) | £577.50 one part, excludes consultant fee; contrast £52.50 (tariff 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027) | Not stated in the tariff | Not stated in the tariff | dchft.nhs.uk | 5 October 2026 |
| Online booking service (150+ partner centres) (Scan.com) | From £305, including a referral written by its medical team | No GP letter needed; its clinicians compile the referral | Estimated 7 to 10 working days | uk.scan.com | 5 October 2026 |
- No centre we checked publishes a separate pituitary MRI price, so these are general one-area guide prices. Ask the centre whether a pituitary scan counts as one area and whether it needs contrast.
Prices are the centres' own published figures, checked by Pete on 5 October 2026. A centre may change a price at any time; the centre's quote is what counts. We delete a row we cannot re-check. Listing a centre here does not mean it is a partner of ours. Full list on Sources.
What we can and cannot do
We are not a clinic and not the NHS. We do not scan, diagnose, refer or book a confirmed slot. We cannot tell you whether you need an MRI. If you have new weakness, numbness in the saddle area, loss of bladder or bowel control, sudden severe headache, chest pain or any symptom that frightens you, call 999 or NHS 111, or see your GP, today.
What we can do: explain the price, the referral rule and the centre types in plain English, and, if you ask, pass your request to one independent scanning centre that covers your area so it can contact you. That is free for you. The centre may pay us a fee.
Four steps to a private MRI
- Body area. Name the one area to be scanned: pituitary. Two areas usually cost more than one.
- Referral rule. Check whether the centre takes self-referral or wants a letter from a GP, physio or consultant. See self-referral and GP letter.
- Centre type. Dedicated scanning centre, hospital group, or open MRI. Compare the from-price, the referral rule and the report time.
- Ask one centre to contact you. Use the form. One partner centre may call or email you. Nothing is booked until you agree a time and price with them.
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What does a pituitary MRI show?
The pituitary is a small gland at the base of the brain, behind the nose, that controls many of the body's hormones. A pituitary MRI uses thin, detailed images of that area, usually with contrast dye, to look for a pituitary adenoma (a common, usually non-cancerous growth), cysts, and pressure on the nerves to the eyes that sit just above the gland.
It is usually ordered after blood tests show a hormone problem, such as a raised prolactin level, or after an eye test shows a particular pattern of vision loss. It is a specialist scan, not a general brain MRI. A standard brain MRI may not show a small pituitary problem.
Do I need a referral for a pituitary MRI?
Almost always. The scan needs a specific protocol and usually contrast, and it is only useful alongside hormone blood tests. Most people are referred by an endocrinologist or a GP who has those results. We did not find a dedicated centre that offers pituitary MRI by self-referral at a published price. See GP letter.
How much does a private pituitary MRI cost?
We could not find a published pituitary MRI price, so the table shows general one-area guide prices. On 5 October 2026: Circle Health Group from £347; Nuffield Health guide prices for one part £400 to £620; Dorset County Hospital's NHS private patient tariff £577.50 for one part plus a contrast charge, before consultant fees. Expect a pituitary scan with contrast to cost more than a plain one-area scan. Ask for a written quote. See contrast.
What happens during a pituitary MRI?
You lie on your back with your head in a coil. A small needle goes into a vein in your arm so that contrast can be given part-way through. The scan usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. The centre may ask about your kidney function and allergies first.
What should I ask before booking?
- Is it a dedicated pituitary protocol with contrast?
- What is the price including contrast?
- Who will read it? A neuroradiologist is preferable.
- Will the report go to my endocrinologist?
What if the scan shows a small growth?
Small pituitary growths are common and many need no treatment. An endocrinologist decides what, if anything, to do, based on the size, your hormone levels and your vision. A private scan without that follow-up rarely helps.
Can I refer myself for a pituitary MRI?
We did not find a centre offering it by self-referral at a published price. It is usually ordered by an endocrinologist after blood tests.
How much does a pituitary MRI cost privately?
No centre we checked published a separate price. General one-area prices on 5 October 2026 ran from £347 to £620, and contrast adds to the cost.
Is a pituitary MRI the same as a brain MRI?
No. It uses thin, detailed images of the gland, usually with contrast. A standard brain MRI may not show a small pituitary problem.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.