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Radiology · London

Private CT colonography in London, virtual colonoscopy without a scope.

A radiologist-led alternative to standard colonoscopy - with the same bowel-cancer screening yield in many patients, and a fast route to colonoscopy if a polyp is found.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What a private CT colonography costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£750–£1,400, with a same-day radiologist report.

Procedure Indicative range
CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) £750–£1,400
CTC + FIT stool test £850–£1,500
CTC + gastroenterology consultation £950–£1,800
Diagnostic follow-up colonoscopy (if needed) £1,600–£3,200
CTC + polyp surveillance plan £900–£1,700
Urgent same-week CTC £1,000–£2,000

Prices vary by unit and whether a FIT test or gastroenterology consultation is bundled in.

The problem

Not everyone can - or wants to - have a colonoscopy.

Sedation, time off, blood-thinners, the camera itself - there are real reasons people put off looking at their bowel. CT colonography is the well-evidenced alternative when it’s the right test for you.

  • Can’t stop blood-thinners?

    No biopsies means anticoagulation continues - a real advantage over colonoscopy.

  • Want to avoid sedation?

    CTC is a scan, not a procedure. No sedation, no driving restriction, home in 30 minutes.

  • Colonoscopy didn’t complete?

    A common indication - CTC finishes the map of the colon without repeating the camera.

What it shows

When CTC is - and isn’t - the right test.

CTC answers many bowel questions well. It isn’t the right first test for red-flag symptoms - colonoscopy is.

  • Bowel-cancer screening alternative

    For patients who want a non-invasive option in place of standard colonoscopy.

  • Investigation of GI symptoms

    A first-line look at the colon when symptoms are non-specific.

  • For frail patients unable to tolerate colonoscopy

    Avoids sedation and the risk profile of therapeutic endoscopy.

  • Polyp surveillance in low-risk patients

    Sensitive for polyps ≥6mm; a reasonable interval test in the right patient.

  • Cancer staging (extracolonic)

    Assesses adjacent organs and lymph nodes at the same time as the colon.

  • Incomplete prior colonoscopy

    A common indication when the caecum wasn’t reached at endoscopy.

  • Contraindication to colonoscopy

    For example, anticoagulation that can’t be paused, or severe cardiorespiratory disease.

  • Red flag: rectal bleeding, weight loss

    Go straight to colonoscopy pathway - CTC is not the right first test.

Scan types

Not all CTC studies are the same.

What each option on your referral is actually for.

  • Standard CT colonography

    Full bowel prep, CO₂ insufflation, prone and supine scans reported by a consultant abdominal radiologist.

  • CTC + FIT

    CTC combined with a faecal immunochemical stool test for a more complete bowel-cancer risk picture.

  • CTC + gastro consult

    Scan followed by a consultant gastroenterologist review to plan any next step in the same visit.

  • CTC after incomplete colonoscopy

    When endoscopy couldn’t reach the whole bowel; CTC completes the map without repeating the camera.

  • Polyp surveillance CTC

    A non-invasive interval scan for low-risk polyp follow-up patients.

  • Staging CTC (known cancer)

    Reports the primary lesion and screens extracolonic organs in one study.

  • Post-polypectomy CTC

    Follow-up imaging after polyp removal when repeat colonoscopy isn’t indicated.

  • Urgent same-week CTC

    Prioritised scanning and same-day report when time matters.

Safety and eligibility

Very safe - but honest about the trade-offs.

CTC is a low-risk scan, but there are things worth knowing before you book - prep, radiation, and what the scan can and can’t rule out.

  • Requires bowel prep the day before

    Lighter than colonoscopy prep, but you still drink a laxative and follow a restricted diet - we explain it honestly.

  • CO₂ insufflation used

    Carbon dioxide gently distends the bowel. Mild bloating is common and brief; CO₂ is absorbed quickly.

  • CTC does not remove polyps

    The scan finds polyps - it can’t take them out. If one is found, colonoscopy is needed for that.

  • Ionising radiation (low dose)

    CT uses X-rays. Modern CTC protocols keep the dose low, but it isn’t zero.

  • Not for pregnancy

    CTC is not used in pregnancy.

  • Not for known IBD flare

    Active inflammatory bowel disease is better assessed with MRI or endoscopy.

  • Anticoagulation continues

    No biopsies are taken, so blood-thinners don’t need pausing - a real advantage over colonoscopy.

  • A normal CTC doesn’t exclude small flat lesions

    Sensitivity for polyps under 6mm and flat lesions is lower than colonoscopy.

  • Extracolonic findings on 10% of scans

    CTC images the whole abdomen and pelvis. Roughly 1 in 10 scans finds something outside the colon that needs a look.

Reading your report

A CTC report can look intimidating. It isn’t.

However much was examined, the report keeps to the same four parts.

A London consultant abdominal radiologist reviewing CT colonography images

A quiet reminder

You get the headline the same day - the impression is written to be read first.

Ask your care team to explain anything that is unclear.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and prep quality

    Your details, the clinical question, and whether the bowel preparation was adequate to interpret the scan reliably.

  2. 02 Technique

    How the scan was done

    Position (prone and supine), insufflation used, and the radiation dose for this study.

  3. 03 Findings

    Colonic and extracolonic

    A segment-by-segment description of the colon and any polyps or masses, plus anything noted in the adjacent organs.

  4. 04 Impression

    The conclusion: read this first

    Normal, polyp needing colonoscopy, or next steps - set out clearly at the top of the report.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about CT colonography.

Quick answers on cost, prep, radiation, extracolonic findings, and when to see a GP instead.

  • CTC vs colonoscopy - what’s the difference?

    Both look at the whole large bowel. Colonoscopy uses a camera under sedation and can remove polyps. CTC uses a CT scanner with CO₂ to distend the bowel - no sedation, no camera, but polyps can’t be removed on the day. If CTC finds one, you’ll need a colonoscopy.

  • What is the bowel prep for CTC?

    Lighter than colonoscopy prep but still real. You follow a low-residue diet the day before and take an oral laxative, plus a stool-tagging drink. It’s manageable at home in a single day.

  • Does CTC hurt?

    No. You’ll feel bloating from the CO₂ used to open the bowel, which passes within minutes. Most people find it far more comfortable than colonoscopy.

  • Can polyps be removed on CTC?

    No - CTC is a scan, not a procedure.

  • How much does CT colonography cost in London?

    Bundles with a FIT test or a gastroenterology consultation cost more.

  • Do I need a referral?

    CTC is usually arranged after a consultation, so the right test is chosen and any medication reviewed.

  • Is CTC safe in pregnancy?

    No. CT uses ionising radiation and isn’t used in pregnancy.

  • How much radiation is involved?

    Modern CTC protocols use a low dose - comparable to a few years of natural background radiation. It isn’t zero, but for a diagnostic question in the right patient it’s a reasonable trade-off.

  • What are extracolonic findings?

    CTC images your whole abdomen and pelvis. About 1 in 10 scans finds something outside the colon - often minor, occasionally important. The radiologist explains what, if anything, needs follow-up.

  • When should I see a GP urgently instead?

    If you have rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, a new persistent change in bowel habit, or a suspicious mass, see a GP or A&E promptly. Those are red flags - colonoscopy is the right first test, not CTC.

Related tests

Looking for a different test?

In practice, in London

Booking CT colonography privately in London - what actually happens

With CT colonography, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. Public provision for CT colonography is competent but constrained by capacity. Private London clinics tend to have shorter diaries and longer appointment slots, so you get the same specialists with more time. For people who’ve been going round in circles with primary care, that first proper conversation is often what shifts things.

A private CT colonography pathway in London usually looks like this: an initial consultation, any diagnostics booked at a nearby facility (most within Zone 1 or 2), and a written report sent to you and your GP within a few days. For CT colonography specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

Fit matters more than people expect. For CT colonography, the right consultant depends on what you actually need - a second opinion, a definitive diagnosis, a bridge into treatment, or reassurance that nothing’s being missed. If a test isn’t the right next step, we’ll say so before you book anything.