Skip to main content

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 stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What a private thyroid ultrasound costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£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.

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. A consultant endocrine or head-and-neck radiologist who scores nodules to protocol is the right person to scan and report.

  • Not sure if a scan is needed?

    Your GP can review your bloods and symptoms and 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.

What it shows

Find the scan that matches the symptom.

Thyroid ultrasound answers a specific set of questions quickly and safely.

  • 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.

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. A biopsy is not always needed.

  • FNA carries a small bleeding risk

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

  • 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 anything in the TI-RADS score is unclear, ask your clinician or GP to talk you through it at your follow-up.

  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

Frequently asked

Common questions 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?

    Private head‑and‑neck clinics in central London can often scan within one to three working days - sometimes 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?

    Adding an FNA biopsy is £600–£1,200.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Related tests

Looking for a different test?

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, a slot inside the same week is often possible, 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.

It is worth asking which consultant reads this particular presentation, how quickly the unit turns reports around, and what the onward pathway is if the findings point somewhere unexpected.