Neck / Thyroid
Ultrasound Scan
Areas/ Organs Covered
What's included?
- Ultrasound assessment of soft tissues within the Neck
- Swollen neck lumps / lymph nodes
- Ultrasound assessment of the Thyroid if indicated
- GP referral may be required - Please speak to our Customer Care team
- Performed by qualified medical ultrasound specialists
Quicklinks
What is the objective of this scan?
The purpose of the neck/thyroid ultrasound scan is to assess the:
- Neck Lumps
- Enlarged Lymph Nodes
- Thyroid gland if indicated
Possible reasons for this scan include:
Assessment of:
- Neck Lump
- Abnormal lymph nodes
- Abnormal swellings/growths
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Inflammation
- Cysts
- Thyroid Size, Health & Condition
- Thyroid disease
What is included with this scan?
A written ultrasound report of the examination including any measurements within 24 hours after your appointment.
Why choose us?
We pride ourselves on providing the best quality service we can which is why we are trusted by GP’s, doctors, physiotherapists, midwifes and many other healthcare professionals.
Our mission of better-quality healthcare for everyone really sets us apart from the vast majority of other clinics and is the main reason why we are among the few diagnostic clinics to not only be approved by but also provide services to the NHS and thus the general public. This also means that unlike many other clinics we have additional strict quality control measures which we must adhere to meaning you are in safe hands with us and our team.
Who will I see?
You will be seen by a healthcare professional who specialises in clinical medical ultrasound. Unlike other diagnostic tests which produce results for analysis, ultrasound imaging is “real- time” therefore the quality of the scan being performed is the basis of the information you take away and heavily depends upon the expertise, experience and skill of the healthcare professional scanning you. This is an important point which is often overlooked by many people when deciding where to go, therefore you can be reassured that at Ultrasound Scan Clinic at St Mary’s Medical Centre you will always be seen by an expert who has vast expertise and experience in the field of medical ultrasound.
What does the scan involve?
During the scan you will be asked to uncover your abdominal area and a small amount of jelly will be placed over your skin. An ultrasound camera will then be placed on top and moved along your abdomen. This will result in a picture appearing on the ultrasound monitor and patient TV which will be translated by a medical ultrasound practitioner. The examination itself usually lasts around 10-15 minutes and is pain free. At the end of the examination a brief explanation of the results may be offered. A formal ultrasound scan report with any recommendations will be sent to you which you can take to your regular healthcare professional.
How do I prepare for this scan?
- No specific preparation is required for this scan.
Neck Scan: Background
The neck is often a source of many problems, some of which can be detected by a simple neck ultrasound scan.
Neck Lumps
Many people will have a neck ultrasound as they have a neck lump or neck swelling. A neck lump or swelling can be painful and may swell up suddenly over a few days. These lumps can be caused by injury, infection and sometimes other reasons. Most often these neck lumps are found to be swollen glands (lymph nodes) and may be a sign of infection such as a cold.
Typical neck lumps include:
- Swollen glands (lymph nodes) – which may be a sign of infection such as a cold.
- Cysts – harmless fluid filled sacs.
- Goitre – swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck
An ultrasound neck scan is often used to assess neck lumps as they can show the size, location and appearance/origin of the lump and therefore help your GP to decide on the best course of action.
Thyroid Problems:
The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland in your neck which makes hormones that are necessary for all the cells in your body to function properly. It is positioned in the front of your neck in a position just below your Adam’s apple and is made of two halves (lobes), each about the size of a plum cut in half. These two halves are connected to each other by a small bridge.
Thyroid problems are very common and tend to occur more frequently in women, although anybody can be affected. It is estimated that 1 in 20 people has some kind of thyroid disorder, which may be temporary or permanent.
During the neck ultrasound scan, our ultrasound experts can determine the size of the thyroid gland and assess for disease, including detection or evaluation of lumps (nodules).
This scan is often requested by doctors at the very early stages following a complaint or abnormal test results such as a blood test and can provide valuable & vital information. Often time is of the essence in many health conditions and seeking early medical advice & services may allow for better outcomes.
Many of our clients choose to book an ultrasound scan with us after having been referred for a neck scan in the NHS by their GP however are unwilling to wait for a scan appointment within the NHS, which can be many weeks. Going privately bypasses this allowing quicker & more convenient appointments & faster results.
We offer flexible & convenient appointments suited around you and your life with clinics running during the day, evening and weekends.
Ultrasound: Background
An ultrasound scan is a painless test that provides images of the inside of the body by using high frequency sound waves. These sound waves are at a frequency which cannot be heard by the human ear but when they bounce off different parts of the body, create echoes that are picked up by the probe and turned into a moving image.
Unlike other scans such as MRI and CT, ultrasound does not involve radiation and is in real time i.e. live imaging and is not static i.e. still pictures. This live information is interpreted and is used as the basis of the subsequent diagnostic report.
There are many kinds of ultrasound scans that can be performed as ultrasound has numerous applications in healthcare and are ultimately beneficial to us if used in the right context by a competent body or person. However as with any test, ultrasound scans have limitations some of which are generic to all scans such as not being able to visualise bone clearly or scan specific and therefore may not be suitable in certain situations and like any test cannot diagnose every problem.
For further information about ultrasound please click here.
Please note
- We will require details of your GP / Health Care Professional, which may be requested before or at the time of the scan.
- This scan requires access to the area of interest; therefore, it is recommended to wear loose clothing to facilitate this process.
- Study images may be available at an additional charge – more information and to request this can be found by clicking here.
- All our first line ultrasound scans are optional. You must be at least 16 years old and you should have no existing medical condition or treatment pending that relates to the scan you are booking. If you are in any doubt about having any type of scan, you should consult your GP.