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Concierge imaging · London

Private thyroid ultrasound in London, by a specialist head-and-neck radiologist.

A lump in the neck, an abnormal TSH, or a nodule your GP has felt - the answer takes twenty minutes, not months. Scanned by a head‑and‑neck subspecialist in central London, TI‑RADS scored on the spot, and with fine‑needle aspiration in the same appointment if the images call for it.

A radiologist performing a thyroid ultrasound in a private London imaging suite

Why patients choose us

  • 01

    The right hands

    We pick the operator, not just the clinic - with thyroid ultrasound that is what decides the answer.

  • 02

    Often answers same-day

    TI-RADS scores and biopsy decisions are frequently discussed immediately, with the written report to follow.

  • 03

    Independent, and free

    We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.

Indicative pricing

What a private thyroid ultrasound costs in London.

Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.

In short

A standard thyroid ultrasound in our network: £250–£450, with the TI-RADS report often the same day.

Scan type Indicative range
Standard thyroid ultrasound £250–£450
Thyroid ultrasound + FNA biopsy £600–£1,200
Neck lymph node ultrasound £300–£550
Ultrasound + endocrinologist review £450–£850
Post-thyroidectomy surveillance ultrasound £280–£500
Urgent same-week appointment £400–£800

Prices vary by clinic, time of day, whether an FNA biopsy is added, and whether an endocrinology review is bundled in. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.

The problem

Thyroid ultrasound is only as good as the person doing it.

The same machine in different hands gives very different TI-RADS scores - and different biopsy decisions. We route you to consultant endocrine or head-and-neck radiologists who score nodules to protocol every time.

  • Not sure if a scan is needed?

    Send your bloods and symptoms - we say whether an ultrasound is the right next step.

  • Want it done quickly?

    Same or next-day appointments, with a same-day TI-RADS report.

  • Worried about who scores it?

    A consultant endocrine or head-and-neck radiologist, every time.

The journey

From enquiry to report - what happens, in order.

One clinician from first message to report - often within days.

  1. 01

    Before

    You tell us what is going on

    A short, confidential form. Symptoms, thyroid bloods, prior imaging, referral or insurer if you have them.

  2. 02

    Before

    We come back with a recommendation

    Within one working day: the right specialist, which clinic, indicative price. If a scan is not the right step, we say so.

  3. 03

    Before

    We arrange the appointment

    Often same or next day, including evenings and Saturdays. Insurer pre-authorisation handled.

  4. 04

    On the day

    Arrival and preparation

    No fasting needed. Bring your prior thyroid bloods and any earlier scan images or reports.

  5. 05

    On the day

    The scan itself

    20 minutes. A high-frequency probe on the neck - painless, quiet, chaperone as standard.

  6. 06

    On the day

    Straight home

    No recovery time. If an FNA biopsy is added, a small dressing and no heavy lifting for the day.

  7. 07

    After

    Report and next steps

    A written TI-RADS report usually the same day. We route it to your GP, endocrinologist or endocrine surgeon.

Typical end-to-end: 3–7 days. Urgent cases: same day.

What it shows

Find the scan that matches the symptom.

Thyroid ultrasound answers a specific set of questions quickly and safely. These are the ones we arrange most.

  • Thyroid nodules

    The first-line test for a nodule you can feel or one found on another scan.

  • Goitre

    Sizes the gland, characterises the nodules within it, checks for compression.

  • Hypothyroidism work-up (occasional)

    Not routine - used when the gland feels abnormal or bloods do not add up.

  • Hyperthyroidism work-up

    Distinguishes Graves’ pattern from a toxic nodule or thyroiditis.

  • Neck lump

    Assesses whether a lump is thyroid, a lymph node, or something else.

  • Post-thyroidectomy surveillance

    Looks for recurrence in the thyroid bed and neck nodes, on schedule.

  • Pregnancy-related thyroid disease

    Radiation-free and safe in pregnancy - the imaging test of choice.

  • Red flag: hoarseness with neck lump

    Hoarseness with a neck lump needs urgent ENT and endocrine review - do not wait.

Thyroid ultrasound types

Not all thyroid scans are the same.

What each option on your referral is actually for.

  • Standard thyroid ultrasound

    Both lobes, the isthmus and central neck - the baseline scan for any thyroid question.

  • Ultrasound + FNA biopsy

    Fine-needle aspiration under ultrasound guidance, done the same visit where indicated.

  • Neck lymph node ultrasound

    A structured look at cervical node levels - often paired with a thyroid scan.

  • Ultrasound + endocrinology consult

    Scan plus a same-visit consultant endocrinology review, with a joint plan.

  • Post-thyroidectomy surveillance ultrasound

    Focused scan of the thyroid bed and neck nodes to look for recurrence.

  • Thyroid + parathyroid ultrasound

    Adds a targeted look for a parathyroid adenoma when calcium and PTH are raised.

  • Thyroid nodule TI-RADS scoring

    A structured score per nodule that drives the decision to biopsy or watch.

  • Urgent same-week ultrasound

    Compressed pathway when a fast answer really matters.

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.

A modern London clinic ultrasound room used for thyroid imaging
Consultant endocrine radiologists
  • Consultant endocrine or head-and-neck radiologists

  • High-frequency probes for TI-RADS scoring

  • Same-day FNA where indicated

  • Endocrinology and endocrine-surgery pathway

Safety and eligibility

One of the safest tests in medicine.

Thyroid ultrasound is exceptionally safe - the practical points are around biopsy decisions and blood-thinner adjustments.

  • Painless, radiation-free

    Sound waves and warm gel - no needles for the scan itself, no ionising radiation.

  • No fasting needed

    Eat and drink as normal. Take your usual medications, including thyroid replacement.

  • A chaperone is standard

    Offered as standard for every neck scan and always available on request.

  • TI-RADS scoring guides biopsy

    A structured score per nodule sets the threshold for FNA - no guesswork.

  • Not every nodule needs a biopsy

    Small, low-risk nodules are safely watched. We say so plainly when a biopsy is not needed.

  • FNA carries a small bleeding risk

    Bruising and a little tenderness are common; significant bleeding is rare with an experienced operator.

  • Anticoagulation may need adjusting

    Warfarin, DOACs, clopidogrel and similar drugs may need to pause for FNA - tell us in advance.

  • Pregnancy safe

    Thyroid ultrasound is the imaging test of choice in pregnancy - no radiation, no contrast.

  • Always bring prior imaging and bloods

    Comparison with earlier scans and current TSH/T4 changes the interpretation. Bring what you have.

Reading your report

A thyroid ultrasound report can look intimidating. It isn’t.

Whatever the finding, the report keeps to the same four parts.

A consultant radiologist reviewing thyroid ultrasound 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 is normal.

If you would like us to talk you through the TI-RADS score before your follow-up, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and prior bloods

    Your details, the clinical question, your recent TSH/T4 and any prior imaging.

  2. 02 Technique

    Probe and protocol

    The probe used, the neck areas examined, and whether Doppler and node levels were assessed.

  3. 03 Findings

    TI-RADS per nodule, size, features

    Each nodule described with a TI-RADS score, size in three dimensions, composition, echogenicity, margin, shape and calcifications.

  4. 04 Impression

    Read first - normal, TI-RADS, plan

    The conclusion in brief: normal, the TI-RADS category, the biopsy plan, and whether an endocrine referral is advised.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cover depends on your policy and clinic; we confirm with your insurer before booking.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about thyroid ultrasound.

Quick answers on cost, referrals, TI-RADS, biopsy, pregnancy and results.

  • How soon can I get a private thyroid ultrasound in London?

    Most patients are scanned within one to three working days on our central London head‑and‑neck network - often the same day when a lump is felt or bloods are markedly abnormal. TI‑RADS scoring is done on the spot, and FNA biopsy can happen in the same visit if the nodule warrants it.

  • What does a thyroid ultrasound actually show?

    It shows the size and texture of the thyroid, characterises every nodule with a TI-RADS score, and checks the neck lymph nodes. It is the first-line imaging test for nodules, goitre, neck lumps and post-surgical surveillance.

  • What is TI-RADS?

    TI-RADS is a structured scoring system that grades each thyroid nodule from TR1 (benign) to TR5 (highly suspicious) based on composition, echogenicity, shape, margin and calcifications. The score, combined with the size of the nodule, decides whether an FNA biopsy is needed.

  • Does the scan hurt?

    No. A high-frequency probe glides across the neck with warm gel. It is painless, and takes about 20 minutes.

  • How much does a private thyroid ultrasound cost in London?

    A standard thyroid ultrasound is typically £250–£450 in our network. Adding an FNA biopsy is £600–£1,200. We confirm firm figures within one working day.

  • Is thyroid ultrasound safe in pregnancy?

    Yes - entirely. It uses sound waves, no radiation and no contrast, and is the imaging test of choice for thyroid problems in pregnancy.

  • What is an FNA biopsy and will I need one?

    Fine-needle aspiration takes a small sample of cells from a nodule using a thin needle under ultrasound guidance. Not every nodule needs one - the TI-RADS score and size decide. When it is done, it takes about 15 minutes and results follow in 5–7 days.

  • How quickly will I get results?

    The written TI-RADS report is usually issued the same day. FNA biopsy cytology takes 5–7 working days.

  • Do I need up-to-date thyroid bloods before the scan?

    Ideally yes - a recent TSH and free T4, plus antibodies if you have them. The interpretation of the scan changes depending on your bloods. If you do not have them we can arrange them the same visit.

  • When should I see a GP urgently instead?

    Hoarseness with a neck lump, a rapidly enlarging lump, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or a lump with weight loss and night sweats - all warrant urgent GP or ENT review, not a private booking pathway.

In practice, in London

Getting thyroid ultrasound sorted in London, without the guesswork

With thyroid ultrasound, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. Waiting lists on the NHS for thyroid ultrasound vary widely by borough and by how the GP letter reads. Privately in London, we can normally offer a slot inside the same week, sometimes within 48 hours if there’s a cancellation. The difference isn’t clinical quality - the consultants are frequently the same faces you’d see on the NHS - it’s the calendar.

A typical private booking for thyroid ultrasound in London starts with a consultant conversation - sometimes in person on Harley Street or Marylebone, sometimes on video if that suits better. Any imaging or diagnostics happen at a nearby CQC-registered facility, and reports usually land within 24 to 72 hours. The whole loop, from first call to written report, is often done inside a fortnight. For thyroid ultrasound specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

The value of going through a concierge for thyroid ultrasound isn’t access - anyone with an insurer or a credit card can get a private appointment in London. The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.

Pulse Healthcare concierge

Send us your enquiry

A concierge service for UK private healthcare. We match you with the best vetted clinics and consultants in our network - they then contact you directly.

So we can match you to the right clinician close to you.

We reply to every enquiry within 24 hours (Mon–Fri). Confidential - your details are never shared outside our vetted consultant network.