Private Abdominal Ultrasound Scan in London
Six organs examined in one unhurried appointment — findings explained while you watch, by the sonographer scanning you. No GP referral required.
- 30-minute appointment — 10 to 20 minutes of scanning
- Verbal result at the appointment, before you leave
- Written report by email usually within two hours
- Performed by clinicians with senior London NHS roles
- Weekend and weekday evening appointments available
CQC-registered clinic · Provider ID 1-2775844974 · HCPC-registered sonographers
What is a private abdominal ultrasound?
An abdominal ultrasound is a painless, radiation-free examination of your liver, gallbladder and biliary tree, kidneys, pancreas, spleen and abdominal aorta. A handheld transducer is pressed gently against your upper abdomen; the echoes returning from each organ build a real-time picture on screen, and the sonographer assesses size, shape, internal structure and — where it matters clinically — blood flow using Doppler.
Most people book for one of two reasons. Either a GP has requested imaging and the NHS queue is longer than the symptom can comfortably wait, or something they tried to ignore — persistent upper abdominal pain, bloating, an abnormal liver blood test — has started affecting work, sleep or appetite. Either way the examination is the same one you would receive on the NHS, performed to the same standards, at a time you choose.
Reporting follows British Medical Ultrasound Society guidance, and GPs, NHS consultants and private specialists accept our reports directly. Read our clinical standards →
“Private” describes how you pay and how quickly you are seen — not a different examination. The scan itself is the standard upper abdominal study.
Why might I need an abdominal ultrasound?
The commonest reason is upper abdominal pain that has not settled — particularly pain under the right ribs after fatty food, which is the classic gallstone pattern. Close behind are abnormal liver blood tests needing a structural explanation, unexplained bloating or early fullness, and flank pain or urinary symptoms pointing at the kidneys.
Others come without symptoms at all: a known liver or kidney cyst due its surveillance scan, a family history that warrants a documented baseline, or an aortic diameter someone wants checked. The scan answers a structural question quickly, and where it cannot answer it, the report says so plainly and names the test that can.
- Upper abdominal pain
- Pain after fatty meals
- Persistent bloating
- Abnormal liver blood tests
- Flank pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Liver size, contour, echogenicity
- Gallbladder and bile ducts
- Both kidneys and collecting systems
- Pancreas, where gas permits
- Spleen size and texture
- Aortic diameter
Go to A&E or call 999 for severe sudden-onset abdominal pain; vomiting blood or vomit resembling coffee grounds; black tarry stools or rectal bleeding; abdominal pain with fever and confusion; jaundice with severe pain or fever; abdominal pain with fainting, dizziness or a racing heartbeat; or a pulsating abdominal mass with back or abdominal pain. The NHS runs same-day assessment for exactly these, and it is excellent. If your GP or a specialist has asked for an urgent scan, tell us when booking and we will prioritise your appointment.
Is this scan suitable for me?
An abdominal ultrasound is a good fit if any of these sound like you:
- ✓Upper abdominal pain that has not settled, especially after fatty food
- ✓Abnormal liver function tests that now need a structural explanation
- ✓Suspected gallstones, or a previous scan showing them
- ✓Persistent bloating, early fullness, or unexplained weight loss
- ✓A known liver or kidney cyst due its surveillance scan
- ✓Your GP has requested abdominal imaging and the wait is too long
And when it is not the right booking
Your symptoms are bowel symptoms. A change in bowel habit, rectal bleeding or unexplained weight loss with altered bowel function needs a different investigation — ultrasound does not image the bowel reliably, and booking this scan would delay the right test. See your GP.
Your question is pelvic, not abdominal. For the uterus and ovaries, the pelvic ultrasound is the correct scan; for bladder and prostate assessment, the abdominal and urinary tract scan. If you are unsure, call us and we will tell you honestly before you book.
If an abdominal ultrasound is not the right test for you, we will say so before you book — not after.
Six organs, assessed one at a time
Organ by organ, not one sweep. Each structure is covered deliberately, with probe angle, depth and gain re-optimised for the tissue in front of it. A liver setting does not show a kidney well, and a quick glide across the upper abdomen misses exactly the things worth finding. Your report addresses each organ separately for the same reason.
Liver. Size, surface contour and echogenicity are assessed, and focal lesions — cysts, haemangiomas, anything suspicious — are documented with measurements. Commonly found: hepatic steatosis (fatty liver), cirrhotic change, simple cysts, haemangiomas. It is the first-line test for suspected fatty liver disease under NICE NG49. It cannot reliably stage early fibrosis.
Gallbladder and biliary tree. The wall is inspected, the contents examined for stones or sludge, and the common bile duct measured. Commonly found: gallstones, wall thickening, polyps, duct dilatation — first-line under NICE CKS on gallstones. This is why the fast matters: eating empties the gallbladder and hides small stones.
Kidneys. Both are measured, with cortical thickness, corticomedullary differentiation and the collecting systems examined, and any cyst or mass documented. Commonly found: simple cysts, stones, hydronephrosis, chronic change, occasionally a tumour. Very small stones can be missed — a dedicated KUB scan covers the tract end to end.
Pancreas. Where bowel gas permits, head, body and tail are assessed for ductal dilatation and focal lesions. Honest limit: gas obscures the pancreas in a significant proportion of adults, and where the view is incomplete and concern remains, the report recommends CT or MRI rather than pretending otherwise.
Spleen and aorta. Splenic length is measured and the texture checked — enlargement beyond 12 cm can point to infection, haematological conditions or portal hypertension. Aortic diameter is measured at several levels and checked for aneurysmal dilatation, defined as 3 cm or more under NICE NG156. That aortic check is incidental; for surveillance of a known aneurysm, book the dedicated AAA scan.
- The bowel — ultrasound is not a reliable method; bowel symptoms need a different investigation
- Pelvic organs — see the pelvic scan or the abdominal and urinary tract scan
- Adrenal glands — often not fully visualised; CT or MRI is the appropriate modality
- Lungs and diaphragm — basic visualisation only; a chest examination is a separate study
- 1
BeforeFast for at least 4 hours — no food, no milky drinks, no sugared drinks. Clear water is encouraged; it aids kidney imaging and keeps you comfortable. Take regular medication with water unless told otherwise, and wear a two-piece outfit for easy access.
- 2
ArrivalReception checks you in. You meet the clinician performing your scan, who confirms your symptoms, answers questions and explains the examination before it starts.
- 3
DuringYou lie on the couch with your upper abdomen exposed. Warm gel, then the transducer across each organ in turn. You may be asked to breathe in deeply or roll slightly onto your side. Ten to twenty minutes, and not painful.
- 4
AfterwardsFindings are explained at the scan itself, while you can still ask about them. Your written report with representative images usually follows by email within two hours, worded for your GP or consultant to act on.
- Take small sips of a sugary drink during the fast if you need to
- Bring food to eat immediately after the scan
- Tell us at booking and we will schedule you earlier in the day
Conditions this scan helps diagnose
What the scan typically detects, and the next step if a finding appears on your report.
| Condition | What the scan shows | Next step if detected |
|---|---|---|
| Gallstones | Echogenic foci in the gallbladder with acoustic shadowing | GP review; surgical referral if symptomatic |
| Fatty liver (NAFLD) | Increased hepatic echogenicity — the “bright liver” appearance | GP review; lifestyle advice; FibroScan if concern |
| Liver cysts & haemangiomas | Well-defined anechoic (cyst) or hyperechoic (haemangioma) lesions | Usually benign; surveillance if atypical |
| Kidney stones | Echogenic foci in the collecting system with acoustic shadowing | GP review; urology referral if obstructing |
| Simple kidney cysts | Well-defined anechoic lesions | Usually benign; no follow-up if simple |
| Hydronephrosis | Dilated renal collecting system | Urology referral to identify the cause |
| Splenomegaly | Splenic length over 12 cm | GP review to identify the underlying cause |
| Abdominal aortic aneurysm | Aortic diameter of 3 cm or more | Vascular referral; dedicated AAA surveillance |
| Suspicious focal lesion | Focal mass requiring characterisation | Urgent GP review; CT or MRI to characterise |
For a wider view of what ultrasound detects across the body, read what scan do I need? a symptom-to-scan guide.
Understanding your upper abdomen
Three things worth knowing before you read your report — because a report you understand is worth more than a report you carry.
Why the fast is not optional
The gallbladder fills between meals and empties after them. Scanned full, it is a clear black oval against which a stone stands out obviously; scanned collapsed after breakfast, it is a folded scrap of tissue that can hide several. Four hours without food is the difference between a definite answer and a repeat appointment.
“Bright liver” in plain language
Fatty liver shows as tissue that reflects more sound than it should, so it appears brighter than the kidney beside it. It is extremely common, often reversible, and by itself not a crisis — but it is a genuine signal, and it is the reason the report compares liver against kidney rather than describing the liver alone.
Structure, not function
Ultrasound shows what your organs look like; blood tests show what they do. A normal-looking liver can still have abnormal bloods, and abnormal bloods send us looking for a structural cause. Neither alone is the full picture — read together, they usually are.
Understanding your results and next steps
Whatever the outcome, you hear it from the person who scanned you, at the appointment — not by letter days later. If a finding needs follow-up, the report states exactly what kind, so your GP can refer you on the NHS or privately without repeating the imaging.
Ready for a clear answer? £159, thirty unhurried minutes, findings explained as they appear.
The IUS London standard of care
A thirty-minute appointment
Ten to twenty minutes of scanning, and the rest for consultation and discussion. Six organs cannot be assessed properly against a stopwatch, and the questions afterwards matter as much as the images.
Tuned to the tissue, not the preset
Depth, gain and focus are re-optimised for each organ. A liver preset makes a kidney look wrong and can flatten the very contrast that reveals a small lesion — so the settings change as the probe moves.
You meet the person scanning you
We are small by design. The clinician who greets you performs the scan and discusses the findings with you at the end — the same person throughout, holding the whole picture.
Honest about the limits
Where bowel gas obscures the pancreas, or a lesion needs CT to define it, the report says so and names the test that will answer the question — rather than reporting around the gap.
Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google
Across 476 Google reviews of IUS London — consistently for unhurried appointments, findings explained clearly at the scan, and reports that arrive when we say they will.
Abdominal ultrasound — your questions answered
Do I need a GP referral?
How should I prepare?
Who will perform my scan?
How soon will I get my report?
How long does the appointment take?
Is the scan painful?
Can I drink water before the scan?
Can I have the scan if I am diabetic?
Does this scan check the ovaries or uterus?
Does this scan check the bowel?
Is the scan safe in pregnancy?
Can I use private health insurance?
What happens if the scan finds something needing follow-up?
What does it cost, and what is the cancellation policy?
Which abdominal scan is right for you?
| Scan | Covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominal Ultrasound (this page) | Liver, gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, aorta | Upper abdominal pain, abnormal liver tests, suspected gallstones |
| Kidneys, Ureters & Bladder (KUB) | Kidneys, ureters and bladder, including post-void residual | Urinary symptoms, flank pain, suspected kidney stones |
| Abdominal & Urinary Tract | Full abdominal organ set plus kidneys, ureters and bladder | Upper abdominal and urinary symptoms in one appointment |
| Pelvic Ultrasound | Uterus, ovaries and endometrium | Pelvic pain, irregular or heavy bleeding, ovarian concerns |
| Well Man Scan | Abdominal, testicular and thyroid | Annual check-up, broad screening |
| Well Woman Scan | Abdominal, pelvic and thyroid | Annual check-up, broad screening for women |
| AAA Screening Scan | Dedicated aortic aneurysm surveillance | Known aneurysm; men over 65 |
Still unsure? Call us on 0203 051 6506 and we will tell you which scan answers your question.
Other general ultrasound scans we offer
The renal tract end to end — stones, obstruction and bladder emptying with post-void residual.
Explore this scan →
General ScansAbdominal & Urinary TractThe full upper abdominal set plus the urinary tract, assessed in a single appointment.
Explore this scan →
General ScansThyroid & Neck UltrasoundThyroid gland, cervical lymph nodes and salivary glands — nodules graded with TI-RADS.
Explore this scan →
Where can you get an abdominal ultrasound in London?
IUS London is a CQC-registered diagnostic ultrasound clinic at 5a Lucerne Mews, Kensington, London W8 4ED — a quiet mews three minutes’ walk from Notting Hill Gate station, serving Kensington, Chelsea, Bayswater, Holland Park and the wider city.
Appointments run Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm, and Sunday by availability — often same-week and frequently same-day. Book online in a few clicks or call 0203 051 6506. If you are not sure an abdominal scan is the right test, ask: we will tell you honestly before you book.
Getting here
Tube: Notting Hill Gate — Central, Circle and District lines — 3 minutes’ walk.
Address: 5a Lucerne Mews, Kensington, London W8 4ED.
Six organs, one unhurried appointment, answers before you leave
Whether your GP has asked for imaging, a blood test has raised a question, or a symptom has stopped being ignorable — thirty minutes, findings explained as they appear, written report usually within two hours.
Kensington, London W8 4ED
3 mins from Notting Hill Gate
Written and clinically reviewed by the HCPC-registered sonographers who perform this scan at IUS London — a CQC-registered diagnostic ultrasound clinic (Provider ID 1-2775844974). Your own findings are explained to you at the scan and set out in your report.
Author: Yianni Kiromitis, Senior Sonographer, HCPC RA38415
Medically reviewed: 30 July 2026