Concierge imaging · London
Imaging (menu), how to choose between X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET and nuclear medicine.
A patient-facing menu of medical imaging modalities. This guide helps you choose between plain X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET and nuclear medicine — with strengths, radiation dose, contrast options and typical indications for each.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right modality
We route you to a consultant radiologist who picks the right test for the clinical question — X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET or nuclear medicine.
- 02
Often reported quickly
Findings can frequently be discussed on the day, with the written report from a consultant radiologist to follow.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private imaging costs in London.
Indicative ranges across modalities in our partner network. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
Radiation-free options first: ultrasound and MRI, with CT, PET and nuclear medicine where the question demands it.
| Scan type | Indicative range | Typical duration | Report turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain X-ray (single region) | £90–£180 | 10 min | Same-day |
| Diagnostic ultrasound | £250–£500 | 25 min | Same-day |
| CT (single region, non-contrast) | £400–£800 | 15 min | 24–48 hr |
| CT angiography with contrast | £600–£1,200 | 30 min | 24–48 hr |
| MRI (single region, non-contrast) | £450–£900 | 30–45 min | 24–72 hr |
| PET-CT (whole body, oncology) | £1,500–£2,500 | 2 hr | 48–72 hr |
Prices vary by clinic, body region, contrast use and sub-specialty reporting. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
Key facts
Imaging in one page.
The six things worth knowing before you book any scan — and the small differences that decide which one you actually need.
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Definition
Imaging is a menu of modalities — X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET, nuclear medicine — each suited to specific questions.
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Radiation-free
Ultrasound and MRI use no ionising radiation and are the first choice when clinically equivalent.
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Ionising
X-ray, CT, PET and nuclear medicine deliver a radiation dose — small, tracked, and justified by the clinical question.
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IV contrast options and safety
Iodinated (CT) and gadolinium (MRI) contrast agents are screened for allergy, renal function and pregnancy.
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Choose by clinical question
The right modality follows the question — bone vs soft tissue, acute vs chronic, local vs whole-body.
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Consultant radiologist reporting
Every study is read by a sub-specialty consultant radiologist, with a structured written report to your referrer.
The journey
From enquiry to report — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to report — often within days.
Phase 1 · Before your scan
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
Minutes to a couple of hours
Phase 3 · After
Consultant reporting
- 01
Before
Consultation and referral
A short, confidential form. Symptoms, the clinical question, prior imaging and any referral or insurer details.
- 02
Before
Choose the modality
Within one working day: whether X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET or nuclear medicine is the right first test — and why.
- 03
Before
Prepare per modality
Fasting for some contrast studies, hydration for CT, metal-check for MRI, tracer timing for PET. We send a plain-English checklist.
- 04
On the day
Change into a gown
Arrive 15 minutes early. Change into a gown, remove metal, and complete a safety questionnaire.
- 05
On the day
Scan performed by a radiographer
A specialist radiographer runs the scan — from a two-minute X-ray to a 45-minute MRI or a two-hour PET pathway.
- 06
After
Radiologist reporting
A consultant radiologist with the right sub-specialty (neuro, MSK, body, chest, oncology) reads and reports the study.
- 07
After
Written report to referrer
A structured written report — typically within 24–72 hours — sent to your referring clinician, with images available for onward review.
Typical end-to-end: 3–7 days. Urgent cases: same day.
What it shows
Which modality answers which question.
Each modality has a natural home. Below: the eight most common clinical questions we get, and the imaging tests that answer them best.
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Bones and joints
Best answered by X-ray (fractures, alignment), MRI (soft-tissue and marrow) or CT (complex bony anatomy).
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Soft tissue and cartilage
MRI is the gold standard; ultrasound is excellent for superficial structures, tendons and dynamic assessment.
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Vascular disease
CT angiography, MR angiography or Doppler ultrasound — chosen by vessel size, renal function and contrast tolerance.
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Chest and lung disease
Chest X-ray first-line; CT for detail; PET-CT for staging lung cancer or characterising indeterminate nodules.
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Abdominal disease
Ultrasound first-line for liver, gallbladder and kidneys; CT for acute pain; MRI for pancreas, liver lesions and MRCP.
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Brain and spine
MRI is the definitive test for brain and spine; CT is faster for acute stroke, trauma and haemorrhage.
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Cancer staging
CT for anatomical staging; PET-CT for metabolic activity and whole-body assessment; MRI for local extent.
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Red flag: incidental suspicious finding — MDT pathway
Any suspicious lesion goes straight to a multidisciplinary team (MDT) for staging and onward planning.
Next steps
What happens after imaging.
A scan is only useful if it drives a decision. These are the eight onward pathways an imaging result typically triggers.
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Reassurance if normal
A clear, structured report explaining what was and wasn’t seen — often enough on its own to close the question.
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Structured follow-up imaging
Interval repeat imaging at defined intervals for indeterminate lesions (e.g. Fleischner criteria for lung nodules).
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Onward specialist referral
Direct route to a sub-specialty consultant — respiratory, GI, urology, neurology, oncology — with the images and report in hand.
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MDT for cancer staging
Multidisciplinary team review to combine imaging, pathology and clinical context into a single treatment plan.
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Biopsy planning
Image-guided biopsy — ultrasound, CT or MRI — targeted precisely to the lesion for tissue diagnosis.
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Surgical planning
Cross-sectional imaging feeds directly into the surgeon’s operative plan, including 3D reconstructions where needed.
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Radiotherapy planning
CT-simulation and MRI/PET fusion define target volumes for radiation oncology.
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Structured surveillance
Long-term surveillance protocols for treated cancer, aneurysm follow-up, or high-risk screening pathways.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of clinics, we picked them.
Partners across central, north, west and south London. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
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Consultant radiologists with sub-specialty accreditation (neuro, MSK, body, chest, oncology)
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Current-generation scanners — 1.5T or 3T MRI, low-dose CT, digital X-ray, PET-CT
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Same-day to 72-hour reporting, with images available for onward review
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Direct onward MDT pathway if a suspicious or incidental finding is identified
Red flags and safety
When imaging is urgent — and when it belongs in A&E.
Imaging is exceptionally safe when the right modality is picked. The practical points are when a private slot is right, when A&E is right, and where the doses and contrast agents matter.
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Acute stroke
Sudden weakness, slurred speech or facial droop is a 999 call — not a private appointment. CT and MRI are done inside the stroke pathway.
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Ruptured AAA
Sudden severe abdominal or back pain with collapse is a surgical emergency — call 999 immediately.
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Bowel perforation
Severe abdominal pain with rigidity, fever or shock needs emergency CT and surgical review, not a private booking.
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Suspected malignancy
Weight loss, night sweats, unexplained bleeding, a fixed mass or an incidental suspicious finding triggers an urgent staging pathway.
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Contrast anaphylaxis
Iodinated and gadolinium contrast agents carry a small anaphylaxis risk — clinics screen for prior reactions and resuscitation kit is on hand.
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Contrast-induced nephropathy
Iodinated CT contrast can worsen renal function — eGFR is checked, and hydration or alternative modalities are used where needed.
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Post-op complication
Suspected leak, collection, bleed or DVT after surgery is a same-day CT or ultrasound question — not a routine private slot.
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Sepsis workup
Fever, tachycardia and hypotension need hospital assessment and imaging inside a sepsis pathway.
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High cumulative radiation dose
Repeated CT and nuclear medicine studies add up. We track prior imaging and choose radiation-free MRI or ultrasound where clinically equivalent.
Reading your report
An imaging report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whatever the finding, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
The report is written for your doctor, not for you — and that’s normal.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and clinical question
Your details, the reason for the scan, and the specific clinical question the imaging is being asked to answer.
- 02 Technique
Modality, sequences and contrast
Which modality, which sequences or phases, whether IV or oral contrast was used, and radiation dose (where relevant).
- 03 Findings
Structured description by anatomy
A systematic, region-by-region description of what was seen — normal and abnormal — with measurements where appropriate.
- 04 Impression
The conclusion: read this first
The consultant radiologist’s answer to the clinical question, and the concrete next step — read this first.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover depends on your policy and clinic; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about imaging.
Quick answers on how to choose a modality, cost, radiation dose, contrast safety, and how long results take.
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Which imaging test do I need?
It depends on the clinical question. X-ray is fastest and cheapest for bones and chest; ultrasound is radiation-free and best for abdomen and soft tissue; CT is best for acute problems and complex anatomy; MRI is the gold standard for brain, spine and soft tissue; PET-CT is for cancer staging. We match the modality to the question — that is the whole point of asking a radiologist first.
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What is the difference between CT and MRI?
CT uses X-rays to build cross-sectional images — fast (under a minute), excellent for bone, lung and acute pathology, but carries a radiation dose. MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves — no radiation, superb soft-tissue detail, but slower (30–45 minutes) and unsuitable for some implants.
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How much does private imaging cost in London?
A plain X-ray is typically £90–£180, ultrasound £250–£500, CT £400–£1,200, MRI £450–£900 and PET-CT £1,500–£2,500 in our network. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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Is contrast safe?
Iodinated CT contrast and gadolinium MRI contrast are both very safe in patients with normal kidney function and no prior reaction. Clinics screen for allergy, renal function and pregnancy before administering contrast, and resuscitation equipment is always on hand.
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Which scans use radiation?
X-ray, CT, PET and most nuclear medicine studies use ionising radiation. Ultrasound and MRI do not. For repeated imaging — particularly in younger patients — we favour radiation-free modalities where they answer the same clinical question.
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How quickly will I get results?
X-ray and ultrasound findings are usually discussed on the day. CT and MRI reports typically arrive within 24–72 hours from a consultant radiologist. Urgent studies are turned round the same day.
Sources
What this guide is built on.
- Royal College of Radiologists. iRefer — making the best use of clinical radiology services.
- European Society of Radiology. ESR guidelines and position papers.
- Public Health England. Ionising radiation: dose comparisons.
- American College of Radiology. ACR Appropriateness Criteria.
Reviewed by Pulse Atlas Editorial Board (). Last reviewed 2026-07-30. Next review 2027-07-30.
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In practice, in London
What imaging looks like on the ground in London
With imaging, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it — not whether the scan is available. The NHS route for imaging is thorough, but the queue is real. Most patients we speak with have been told to expect anywhere from a handful of weeks to several months, depending on their local trust and how the referral is graded. Going private in London usually collapses that window to a matter of days — often the same week if the diary allows. It isn’t about jumping a queue so much as buying time back while you still have the flexibility to plan around it.
Once you’re in the private system for imaging, the pace picks up noticeably. Consultant slots run to time, imaging is usually available in the same building or a short walk away, and the report comes back typed and detailed. It’s the coordination that tends to feel different — one person on the other end of the phone, not a switchboard. For imaging specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
There are a lot of consultants in London who can technically handle imaging. Fewer who do it week in, week out for the exact question you’re bringing. We spend most of our time working out which is which — and being straight when a different test or a different specialist would serve you better. Everything runs to CQC, GMC and Royal College standards; the choice is about fit, not floor.
Nearby in the library