Skip to main content

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.

A radiologist reviewing multi-modality imaging in a private London clinic

Indicative pricing

What private imaging costs in London.

Indicative ranges across modalities in our partner network.

In short

Radiation-free options first: ultrasound and MRI, with CT, PET and nuclear medicine where the question demands it.

Scan type Indicative range
Plain X-ray (single region) £90–£180
Diagnostic ultrasound £250–£500
CT (single region, non-contrast) £400–£800
CT angiography with contrast £600–£1,200
MRI (single region, non-contrast) £450–£900
PET-CT (whole body, oncology) £1,500–£2,500

Prices vary by clinic, body region, contrast use and sub-specialty reporting.

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.

  • Definition

    Imaging is a menu of modalities - X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET, nuclear medicine - each suited to specific questions.

  • Radiation-free

    Ultrasound and MRI use no ionising radiation and are the first choice when clinically equivalent.

  • Ionising

    X-ray, CT, PET and nuclear medicine deliver a radiation dose - small, tracked, and justified by the clinical question.

  • IV contrast options and safety

    Iodinated (CT) and gadolinium (MRI) contrast agents are screened for allergy, renal function and pregnancy.

  • Choose by clinical question

    The right modality follows the question - bone vs soft tissue, acute vs chronic, local vs whole-body.

  • Consultant radiologist reporting

    Every study is read by a sub-specialty consultant radiologist, with a structured written report to your referrer.

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.

  • Bones and joints

    Best answered by X-ray (fractures, alignment), MRI (soft-tissue and marrow) or CT (complex bony anatomy).

  • Soft tissue and cartilage

    MRI is the gold standard; ultrasound is excellent for superficial structures, tendons and dynamic assessment.

  • Vascular disease

    CT angiography, MR angiography or Doppler ultrasound - chosen by vessel size, renal function and contrast tolerance.

  • Chest and lung disease

    Chest X-ray first-line; CT for detail; PET-CT for staging lung cancer or characterising indeterminate nodules.

  • Abdominal disease

    Ultrasound first-line for liver, gallbladder and kidneys; CT for acute pain; MRI for pancreas, liver lesions and MRCP.

  • Brain and spine

    MRI is the definitive test for brain and spine; CT is faster for acute stroke, trauma and haemorrhage.

  • Cancer staging

    CT for anatomical staging; PET-CT for metabolic activity and whole-body assessment; MRI for local extent.

  • 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.

  • Reassurance if normal

    A clear, structured report explaining what was and wasn’t seen - often enough on its own to close the question.

  • Structured follow-up imaging

    Interval repeat imaging at defined intervals for indeterminate lesions (e.g. Fleischner criteria for lung nodules).

  • Onward specialist referral

    Direct route to a sub-specialty consultant - respiratory, GI, urology, neurology, oncology - with the images and report in hand.

  • MDT for cancer staging

    Multidisciplinary team review to combine imaging, pathology and clinical context into a single treatment plan.

  • Biopsy planning

    Image-guided biopsy - ultrasound, CT or MRI - targeted precisely to the lesion for tissue diagnosis.

  • Surgical planning

    Cross-sectional imaging feeds directly into the surgeon’s operative plan, including 3D reconstructions where needed.

  • Radiotherapy planning

    CT-simulation and MRI/PET fusion define target volumes for radiation oncology.

  • Structured surveillance

    Long-term surveillance protocols for treated cancer, aneurysm follow-up, or high-risk screening pathways.

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.

  • 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.

  • Ruptured AAA

    Sudden severe abdominal or back pain with collapse is a surgical emergency - call 999 immediately.

  • Bowel perforation

    Severe abdominal pain with rigidity, fever or shock needs emergency CT and surgical review, not a private booking.

  • Suspected malignancy

    Weight loss, night sweats, unexplained bleeding, a fixed mass or an incidental suspicious finding triggers an urgent staging pathway.

  • Contrast anaphylaxis

    Iodinated and gadolinium contrast agents carry a small anaphylaxis risk - clinics screen for prior reactions and resuscitation kit is on hand.

  • Contrast-induced nephropathy

    Iodinated CT contrast can worsen renal function - eGFR is checked, and hydration or alternative modalities are used where needed.

  • Post-op complication

    Suspected leak, collection, bleed or DVT after surgery is a same-day CT or ultrasound question - not a routine private slot.

  • Sepsis workup

    Fever, tachycardia and hypotension need hospital assessment and imaging inside a sepsis pathway.

  • 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 consultant radiologist reviewing cross-sectional images on a clinical workstation at a UK private clinic

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 02 Technique

    Modality, sequences and contrast

    Which modality, which sequences or phases, whether IV or oral contrast was used, and radiation dose (where relevant).

  3. 03 Findings

    Structured description by anatomy

    A systematic, region-by-region description of what was seen - normal and abnormal - with measurements where appropriate.

  4. 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

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Reviewed by Pulse Atlas Editorial Board (). Last reviewed 2026-07-30. Next review 2027-07-30.

Related tests

Looking for a different test?

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.