Abdominal Ultrasound FAQs

Abdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test used to look at organs in the upper abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys. The blood vessels that lead to some of these organs, such as the inferior vena cava (IVC), aorta and portal vein, are also examined during your abdominal ultrasound scan in London.

What happens if you eat and drink before an abdominal ultrasound?

If you eat and drink before an ultrasound, you will create an excess amount of abdominal gas that might obscure some abdominal organs. Your gallbladder will also empty to help digest food and will not be easily seen during the test.

Is Fasting required for an abdominal ultrasound?

If you are having an abdominal ultrasound, you are required to fast for at least 4 hours. There is a lot of outdated information online, some recommend fasting from 8 to 12 hours.

Can I have coffee before an abdominal ultrasound?

If you do really want a coffee, you can drink a black one with NO milk.

What does red mean on an abdominal ultrasound?

The red and blue colours on the screen during your ultrasound in London indicate the direction of blood flow. You can read more about Doppler ultrasound Imaging.

Can liver disease be detected on an abdominal ultrasound?

Liver diseases are detectable on and ultrasound, although it depends on the stage and kind of liver disease.

Can I drink water before an Abdominal Ultrasound?

If you are having an abdominal scan, you are allowed to have clear fluids such as water and black coffee.

What can an abdominal ultrasound detect?

An abdominal ultrasound can help your doctor evaluate the cause of stomach pain or bloating. It can help check for kidney stones, liver disease, tumours and many other conditions. Your doctor may also recommend that you have an abdominal ultrasound if you're at risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Is Fasting required for an abdominal ultrasound?

If you are having an abdominal ultrasound, you are required to fast for at least 4 hours. There is a lot of outdated information online, some recommend fasting from 8 to 12 hours.

Can I have coffee before an abdominal ultrasound?

If you do really want a coffee, you can drink a black one with NO milk.

What does red mean on an abdominal ultrasound?

The red and blue colours on the screen during your ultrasound in London indicate the direction of blood flow. You can read more about Doppler ultrasound Imaging.

Can liver disease be detected on an abdominal ultrasound?

Liver diseases are detectable on and ultrasound, although it depends on the stage and kind of liver disease.

Can I drink water before an Abdominal Ultrasound?

If you are having an abdominal scan, you are allowed to have clear fluids such as water and black coffee.

What can an abdominal ultrasound detect?

An abdominal ultrasound can help your doctor evaluate the cause of stomach pain or bloating. It can help check for kidney stones, liver disease, tumours and many other conditions. Your doctor may also recommend that you have an abdominal ultrasound if you're at risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Private Abdominal Ultrasound - At a Glance

  • Diagnostic investigation of the Liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys and spleen
  • Confirm pathology within the Upper Abdomen
  • General Reassurance
  • No GP referral is required
  • Same time results to take away
  • Fully qualified, experienced NHS sonographers
  • At least 4 hrs of fasting is required.
  • Same-day appointments are usually available.
  • Only £149
  • Book Online or over the phone
  • Easily accessible London location
Book Abdominal Scan Appointment

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a man is having a private abdominal ultrasound scan in London

What is an Ultrasound of the Abdomen?

A private abdominal ultrasound is a diagnostic medical scan used to assess the organs and structures within the abdomen.
It uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the abdomen that can be used to detect a variety of conditions, including abdominal pain, gallstones, kidney stones, and liver disease.
It can also be used to look at blood vessels and to check for tumours. This type of scan does not use radiation, and it is therefore safe for pregnant women.
A woman is having a private abdominal scan in a clinic in London, UK
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Why am I having an ultrasound on my abdomen?

This scan is performed to image and diagnose the reasons for:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Abdominal bloating
  • Loin/kidney pain
  • Abnormal liver function tests, fatty liver
  • Abnormal renal function
  • Follow up on previous findings such as cysts, gallstones, polyps, kidney stones
  • Abnormal Blood Tests
  • Tumours & Cancers
  • Vomiting
  • Discomfort
  • Yellow Skin (Jaundice)

What diseases can an abdominal ultrasound detect?

  • Cancers
  • Lier disease
  • Inflammation
  • Polyps
  • Cysts
  • Gallstones
  • Fatty Liver
  • Liver Cirrhosis

Book your Abdominal Ultrasound

Use our online booking system to choose the most suitable day and time.

Only £149

(£29 deposit is required)

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What does a scan of the abdomen show?

The Liver and Upper Abdominal diagnostic test includes the evaluation of:

  • Liver
  • Gall bladder and biliary system
  • Pancreas
  • Kidneys
  • Spleen
  • Organ blood flow using Doppler ultrasound
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Comprehensive Abdominal, Pelvic, and Urinary Tract Ultrasound Packages

Get a more complete understanding of your health by combining an abdominal ultrasound with a pelvic or urinary tract scan.

Add a pelvic scan to your abdominal ultrasound for just £80, or include a urinary tract scan for an additional £30.

These combinations provide a detailed assessment of key areas, identifying potential issues with greater accuracy.

Enjoy the convenience of a single appointment, no need for a GP referral, and immediate results.

Book your combined scan today for a thorough and cost-effective health evaluation.

A woman is having an ultrasound examination in our private clinic in London

What is included with the private ultrasound tests?

  • Diagnostic report with images and, if needed, a follow-up recommendation.

How to Prepare for the Abdominal Ultrasound scans?

For this private ultrasound scanning, you are required to fast for at least 4 hours (if you are diabetic, you may have a sugary supplement if needed). Clear fluids, for example, water, are allowed.

 

How to Prepare for the Private Abdominal Ultrasound scans:

The preparation for this type of procedures is to fast for at least 4 hours (if you are diabetic, you may have a sugary supplement if needed). Clear fluids, for example, water, are allowed.

What to expect during the transabdominal ultrasound imaging?

During the consultation, our sonographer will explain the examination procedure.

You will be asked to lie on your back and expose your upper abdomen.

A small amount of water-based gel will be applied to your skin. The gel will help the transducer to make good contact with the skin. The ultrasound transducer will be placed on the body and will be moved in different directions over the area of interest to obtain the required information/ultrasound images.

There is usually no discomfort from pressure as the transducer or probe, as otherwise known, is pressed against the area being examined. However, if scanning is performed over an area of tenderness, you may feel pressure or minor discomfort from the transducer.

Once the imaging is completed, the clear gel will be wiped off your skin. Any portions that are not wiped off will dry quickly. The gel does not usually stain or discolour clothing.

This examination is usually completed within 10-20 minutes. You should be able to resume your normal activities immediately.

Patient having abdominal scan in London
A photo showing how the abdominal scan is performed.

How much does a private Abdominal Ultrasound Cost

We believe that ultrasound tests in London should be affordable, and the cost should not be a limiting factor in your decision to get a faster diagnosis and better treatment. You will therefore find the price of our imaging services surprisingly affordable.

The private abdominal ultrasound Costs: £149.00

Private abdominal ultrasound scan near me.

If you are looking for a high-quality abdominal ultrasound scan nearby and in a convenient London location, our clinic is conveniently located in the heart of London, just a few minutes' walk from Notting Hill Gate tube station, in a cobbled cul-de-sac off Kensington Mall in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Notting Hill underground station is served by Central, Circle and District lines.

References and More Information:

NHS - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ultrasound-scan/

Diagnosis - Liver Cancer - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/liver-cancer/diagnosis/

Having an Upper Abdominal Ultrasound Scan - the IOW NHS - http://www.iow.nhs.uk/Downloads/Patient%20Information%20Leaflets/Diagnostic%20Imaging%20-%20Having%20an%20Upper%20Abdominal%20Ultrasound%20Scan%20v4.pdf

BMUS - ABDOMINAL / RENAL ULTRASOUND - https://www.bmus.org/abdominal-renal/

BMUS - GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL ULTRASOUND PRACTICE - https://www.bmus.org/policies-statements-guidelines/professional-guidance/guidelines-for-professional-ultrasound-practice/

SoR - Guidelines For Professional Ultrasound Practice - https://www.sor.org/sites/default/files/document-versions/ultrasound_guidance.pdf

Ultrasound Clinic London

Clinic Address:

International Ultrasound Services
5a Lucerne Mews London
W8 4ED
Nearest tube: Notting Hill Gate
Tel: 0203 051 6506 or 0753 929 0816
E-mail:info@iuslondon.co.uk

Appointment Bookings

Monday – Friday: 9am-8pm
Saturday: 10am-1pm
Sunday: Closed

Directions to our Ultrasound Clinic.
Google Maps.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Medical Ultrasound?

Ultrasonography or sonogram is a non-invasive, painless diagnostic technique utilising high-frequency sound waves. The sound waves that are transmitted through the skin via a transducer are bouncing back on the internal organs to produce images of the body’s internal organs and tissues such as the ovaries, gallbladder, joints and blood vessels. The images of the organs are displayed in black and white on a state-of-the-art monitor attached to the scanner. In medicine, it is commonly the first line of medical diagnosis when human body pathology is suspected due to its ability to detect abnormalities early on before they have time for symptoms and signs to appear and therefore instigate faster treatment.

Unlike X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans, ultrasounds do not use radiation and are therefore believed to be safe for the mother and the unborn baby, and this is why pregnancy scans are so popular.

Prenatal ultrasound scanning is used in all stages of pregnancy to obtain detailed images to evaluate the foetal wellbeing as well as for bonding scans called 3d,4d and 5d scans and also to identify if the baby is a boy or a girl.

It is called ultra sound as the high-frequency sound waves used are in the region of 1 to 20MHz. A sound frequency that the human ear can’t hear. The technology uses the same frequencies used by the navy sonar and by animal echolocation such as dolphins and bats. You can find more detailed information on what is an ultrasound scan page.

What are the benefits and risks of abdominal ultrasound scanning?

Benefits

  • Ultrasounds are non-invasive.
  • An ultrasound exam may be occasionally temporarily uncomfortable, but it should not be painful.
  • Ultrasound is widely available, easy to use and less expensive than other imaging modalities.
  • Ultrasound is extremely safe and does not use any ionizing radiation.
  • This imaging examination gives a clear picture of soft tissues such as the liver that do not show up well on x-rays.

Risks

  • There are no known harmful effects on humans related to ultrasound scans.

What are the limitations of abdominal Ultrasound Imaging?

 Ultrasound does not travel well in the bowel or gas, so abdominal organs such as the stomach and bowel or organs obscured by the bowel can not be fully evaluated with ultrasound.

It can also be hard to fully visualise the internal anatomy of large patients as the sound waves have further to travel, and therefore the returning echoes are weaker.

Private abdominal ultrasound scan near me.

Our clinic is located near the Notting Hill Gate station in London. If you are looking for a high-quality ultrasound scan nearby and in a convenient London location, we are looking forward to seeing you.

You can find more answers to your questions on the abdominal scan FAQs page.

 

Yianni Kiromitis Founder and Sonographer of International Ultrasound services in London

Written by:

Updated on:

  • October 10, 2024

Medically Reviewed by Tareq Ismail Pg(Dip), BSc (Hons)