Private Shoulder Ultrasound Scan in London

At London Private Ultrasound a shoulder ultrasound is £199 for one shoulder and £299 for both, all-inclusive, at our Central London (Harley Street Medical District) and St Albans clinics. There are no added fees. The price covers an MSK-specialist appointment, a full assessment of the rotator cuff (all four tendons), the long head of biceps, the subacromial bursa, the AC joint and the upper-arm soft tissues, a dynamic movement assessment, same-day verbal results and a full written report within 24 hours, shared with your GP or specialist on request.

Across the UK, private shoulder ultrasound scans typically advertise from around £130 to £300. The difference usually comes down to who performs and reports the scan, whether the assessment is dynamic, and what is included, so it is worth comparing like for like. Booking both shoulders together at £299 saves £49 versus two separate single-shoulder appointments.

Yes. Shoulder ultrasound is the recommended first-line scan for most shoulder pain. It shows the rotator cuff tendons, the long head of biceps, the subacromial–subdeltoid bursa, the acromioclavicular joint and the upper-arm soft tissues in high resolution and in real time.

It reliably identifies rotator cuff tears and tendinopathy, shoulder impingement, subacromial bursitis, calcific tendinitis, biceps tendon problems, AC joint arthritis and soft-tissue lumps. Because it is dynamic, it can reproduce and show problems that only appear when you move the arm.

For the rotator cuff, biceps tendon, bursa and soft tissue, high-resolution ultrasound is considered comparable to MRI in experienced hands, and it has one advantage MRI does not: it images the shoulder moving, which is how impingement and some subtle cuff problems are best seen.

MRI is better for the labrum, the bone and marrow, and the deep glenohumeral joint. In practice, ultrasound is the ideal first test for most shoulder pain, and if the findings suggest a labral, bony or deep-joint issue, an MRI is the right next step. We will tell you clearly if that applies to you.

For soft tissue, ultrasound is the better test. It shows the rotator cuff, biceps tendon, bursa and other soft tissues in high resolution and in real time, with no radiation. A CT scan uses X-rays and is best for bone, complex fractures and surgical planning, not for tendons.

So if your problem is a suspected cuff tear, impingement, bursitis or tendon pain, a shoulder ultrasound is the right first scan. CT is usually reserved for bony injuries, often after an X-ray, and we will tell you if that is the better route for you.

Ultrasound is not a cancer screening test, but it can detect and characterise lumps and masses around the shoulder and upper arm, for example a lipoma, ganglion or bursal swelling, and can raise suspicion of a soft-tissue tumour that needs further assessment.

If a lump has indeterminate or concerning features, the clinician will advise onward MRI and specialist referral, as a definitive diagnosis of cancer usually requires MRI and a biopsy. Ultrasound is a useful, radiation-free first look, not the final word.

Yes. High-resolution ultrasound is highly accurate for rotator cuff tears and can distinguish full-thickness tears, partial-thickness tears and degenerative tendinopathy, as well as calcific deposits within the tendons.

For full-thickness supraspinatus tears in particular, ultrasound performed by an experienced clinician has sensitivity and specificity comparable to MRI, with the added benefit of a dynamic assessment during movement.

Yes. This is a shoulder and upper-arm ultrasound. As well as the shoulder joint structures, the scan assesses the upper-arm muscles, tendons and soft tissue, and any lumps or swelling in that area.

This matters because shoulder problems often refer pain down the arm, and pain that feels like it is in the upper arm can originate at the shoulder. If your pain is centred at the elbow, wrist or hand instead, an elbow or hand-and-wrist scan may be more appropriate. Ask us and we will guide you.

Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is largely a clinical diagnosis, but ultrasound helps in two important ways. It can show supportive signs such as thickening at the rotator interval and around the joint, and just as importantly it can rule out a rotator cuff tear or other problem that can mimic a frozen shoulder.

Ultrasound can also guide treatment, such as an ultrasound-guided injection or hydrodistension, if that is the plan. We will explain the findings and the options on the day.

The NHS does offer shoulder ultrasound, but usually only after a GP referral and often with a wait for the appointment and then the report.

A private shoulder ultrasound is for people who want a fast, specialist answer, frequently the same or next day, with results explained in the room and a written report they can share with their GP, physiotherapist or surgeon. No GP referral is required to book with us.

Allow about 20 to 30 minutes for a single shoulder, or a little longer if both shoulders are being scanned. Your findings are explained straight after the scan, and the full written report follows within 24 hours.

No. You can self-refer and book directly online, by phone on 020 7101 3377, or on WhatsApp, with same-day and next-day appointments often available at both clinics.

If you have previous X-ray, ultrasound or MRI reports for the shoulder, bring them so the clinician can read today’s findings in context.

It is painless and non-invasive. Warm gel is applied to the skin and the clinician moves a small probe over the shoulder and upper arm, viewing the structures on screen. There are no needles and nothing internal.

You will be asked to move your arm during the scan so the tendons and bursa can be watched in motion. If a movement is uncomfortable because of your symptoms, tell the clinician and they will adapt.

You get verbal results the same day: the clinician explains what they have found immediately after the scan and answers your questions. A full written report with images follows within 24 hours.

On request, we can share the report directly with your GP, physiotherapist or specialist to speed up your next step.

Ultrasound is radiation-free and can be appropriate for children in the right circumstances, for example after an injury or for a soft-tissue concern. Please call us on 020 7101 3377 first so we can confirm suitability and arrange the right appointment.

London Private Ultrasound has two clinics. Central London is at 27 Welbeck Street, W1G 8EN, in the Harley Street Medical District, a short walk from Bond Street, Oxford Circus and Marylebone. St Albans is at 54–56 Victoria Street, AL1 3HZ, serving Hertfordshire and North London.

Both offer the £199 shoulder scan (£299 both shoulders), seven days a week, 9am to 7pm, with MSK-specialist clinicians and same-day and next-day appointments often available.

Yes. If the scan confirms a treatable problem such as subacromial bursitis, impingement or a painful tendon, an ultrasound-guided cortisone injection can often be arranged. Placing the injection under live ultrasound means it is delivered accurately to the right spot.

Our one-stop orthopaedic and MSK clinic can take you from scan to treatment quickly where that is the right plan.