Thigh Ultrasound Scan, Cardiff & South Wales
Self-refer. Consultant-led. Immediate results explained at your appointment.
thigh ultrasound
What's included
- ✓Consultant Radiologist scan, with results explained immediately
- ✓Written report within 24-48 hours
- ✓Digital scan images
- ✓Onward referral if needed
- ✓No GP referral required
Thigh structures
A scan of the muscles at the front, back and side of the thigh, useful for sports injuries and for pain that has no obvious cause.
Quadriceps muscles
The four muscles at the front of the thigh.
Hamstring muscles
The three muscles at the back of the thigh.
Adductor muscles
The inner thigh, where groin strains happen. See our groin scan if the pain is higher up.
Iliotibial band
Down the outside of the thigh, where ITB syndrome causes pain near the knee.
Femoral vessels
The femoral artery and vein, and anything sitting alongside them.
Lymph nodes
The groin nodes, where relevant.
Muscle haematomas
Bleeds within the muscle after an injury.
Lumps
Lipomas, ganglia and other soft tissue masses.
Reasons to book a thigh scan
What we can identify
Most thigh problems are soft tissue, which makes ultrasound a sensible first test. It grades muscle tears, measures them, and can be repeated as the injury heals.
Hamstring tear
Graded 1 to 3, with the size and location of the tear measured.
Quadriceps strain
Particularly rectus femoris injury.
Adductor strain
The groin pull, common in football.
Muscle haematoma
Acute bleeds and older, organising ones.
Lipoma
Common benign fatty lumps. For a lump elsewhere, see our lump & bump scan.
Suspicious lumps
Features that warrant urgent specialist referral rather than watching and waiting.
A significant muscle tear usually benefits from physiotherapy, and we can advise on the rehab pathway and refer you on within our orthopaedic clinic if surgery is a question. If the whole leg is swollen and there was no injury, that is a different problem: a clot needs ruling out, and our DVT scan is the right test.
Preparation
How to prepare
No special prep. Loose clothing makes the scan easier, and it helps to know when the injury happened and what you were doing at the time.
A same-sex chaperone is always available if you'd prefer one.
Your appointment, step by step
Arrive
Free parking at Penarth. 5-minute walk from Penarth railway station.
Meet your consultant
Brief chat about your symptoms and history. Ask any questions.
The scan (30 mins)
Warm gel goes on the thigh and the consultant compares it with the other side. You may be asked to tense the muscle, and to turn onto your front so the hamstrings can be seen properly.
Immediate results
Your consultant explains the findings as they scan and again at the end, so you leave knowing what's going on. Written report follows within 24-48 hours.
Had been waiting ages on the NHS to get a scan… so when I saw this service available on the high street I was surprised. Scan was organised for the same week, totally worth it. Actually got a diagnosis for once. Dr Junaid was very thorough and explained everything.
Transparent, all-inclusive
One thigh is £260. Both thighs, or the thigh plus a second area, in one appointment is £360, and three areas is £399.
Thigh Ultrasound
- ✓One thigh £260, or both thighs £360 — pick in the next step
- ✓Immediate results explained, plus written report in 24-48 hrs
- ✓Same-week, no GP referral required
Two-area scan
- ✓Two different areas, or both thighs, in one appointment
- ✓The thigh plus another area, such as the knee or hip
- ✓Save £160 versus two separate scans
Three-area scan
- ✓Three areas assessed in the same appointment
- ✓Ideal for multi-site or overuse injuries
- ✓Save £381 versus three separate scans
All prices include consultation, scan, written report, digital images and any onward referral if required.
Our Penarth clinic
Patients travel to us from Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend, Barry, Caerphilly, Swansea and the Vale.
Common questions about thigh ultrasound scan
How much does a private thigh ultrasound cost?
£260 for one thigh and £360 for both, a saving of £160. Adding a second area is also £360, and three areas is £399. All-inclusive at Acorn Private Clinic.
Can ultrasound grade a hamstring tear?
Yes. We grade from 1 (a mild strain) to 3 (a complete tear) and measure the size and position of the tear. That is what guides recovery time and rehab, and because ultrasound is quick and repeatable we can rescan later to check how it is healing.
How long does the scan take?
About 30 minutes per thigh.
Do I need a referral?
No, you can self-refer and book online.
Ultrasound or MRI for the thigh?
Ultrasound is well suited to muscle injuries, quick, and easy to repeat as you recover. MRI is better for deep or chronic problems, for a suspected tendon avulsion high up at the hamstring origin, for bone, and where a surgeon needs to plan. Most muscle injuries start with ultrasound, and we can arrange an MRI if more detail is needed.
How long until I can return to sport?
It depends on the grade and location of the tear. Your consultant explains what the scan shows and what that usually means for recovery, so you have a realistic timeline rather than a guess.
Is the scan painful?
No. It is gentle probe pressure, and we work carefully around the most tender area.
How quickly can I be seen?
Most appointments are available within 48-72 hours.
Is ultrasound safe?
Yes. It uses sound waves rather than radiation, so it can be repeated as often as needed to track healing.
Will I get a written report?
Yes. Immediate verbal results at the appointment, plus a written consultant report within 24-48 hours.
Can ultrasound find sarcomas?
It can raise the alarm. Many soft tissue sarcomas have features on ultrasound that mark them out from a simple lipoma, and if we see them, urgent specialist referral is arranged the same day. What ultrasound cannot do is rule a sarcoma out with certainty, particularly for a deep mass, so any lump that is large, deep, firm or growing needs an MRI as well.
Where do I go?
Acorn Private Clinic at Penarth (CF64 2AD), 10 minutes from Cardiff.
Get the answers you need.
Self-refer for a private thigh ultrasound. Consultant-led, same-week, with immediate results explained at your appointment and a written report within 24-48 hours. £260 all-inclusive.