Aorta Ultrasound & AAA Screening, Cardiff & South Wales
Self-refer. Consultant-led. Immediate results explained at your appointment. Screening for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a quick, painless scan that measures your abdominal aorta and tells you there and then whether it is a normal size.
aorta (AAA) scan
What's included for £260
- ✓Consultant Radiologist scan — results explained immediately
- ✓Measured aortic diameter, told to you on the day
- ✓Written report within 24-48 hours
- ✓Digital scan images
- ✓Onward referral if needed
- ✓No GP referral required
& sonographers
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Why choose Acorn
Consultant-led, every scan
Every scan is performed by a Consultant Radiologist, with your results explained on the day.
Seen within 48 hours
No long NHS wait — most appointments are booked within 48 hours of enquiry.
Immediate results
Findings explained as we scan and again at the end, with a written report within a couple of hours and images in 24 to 48 hours.
HIW regulated
Inspected and approved by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, and self-refer with no GP letter needed.
The whole abdominal aorta
The aorta is the main artery carrying blood from your heart down through your abdomen. We follow it along its length and measure it, looking for the widening that defines an aneurysm.
Aortic diameter
The key measurement, taken at the widest point.
Full length
From the diaphragm down to where it divides.
Aneurysm shape
Fusiform or saccular, and how far it extends.
Aortic wall
Calcification and atherosclerotic change.
Mural thrombus
Clot lining the wall within an aneurysm.
Iliac arteries
The branches at the bottom, where aneurysms also occur.
Surrounding tissues
Free fluid or anything unexpected nearby.
Previous scans
Compared against earlier measurements if you have them.
Who an AAA scan is for
Most aneurysms cause no symptoms at all, which is exactly why screening exists. These are the reasons people book with us.
Your result, explained on the day
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is diagnosed when the aorta measures 3 cm or more across. The number itself decides what happens next, and your consultant talks you through it before you leave.
Under 3 cm — normal
No aneurysm. The great majority of scans come back in this range and no follow-up is needed.
3.0 to 4.4 cm — small
A small aneurysm. Not dangerous at this size, but it is monitored, usually with a repeat scan every year.
4.5 to 5.4 cm — medium
Monitored more closely, typically every three months, so any growth is picked up early.
5.5 cm or more — large
Referred to a vascular surgeon to discuss repair, because the risk of rupture rises at this size.
Aortic wall disease
Calcification and atherosclerosis, which say something useful about your arteries generally.
Iliac artery aneurysm
Less common, found in the branches below the aorta. We check these too.
This scan is for screening, not emergencies. Sudden severe tummy or back pain, feeling faint or collapsing needs 999 or A&E immediately, not a clinic appointment.
Preparation — 4-hour fast
How to prepare for your aorta scan
Why fast? The aorta sits behind the bowel. Gas in the bowel scatters the ultrasound beam and blocks the view, and eating produces gas. A few hours without food gives a clear window through to the aorta and a more accurate measurement.
Diabetic or prone to hypos? Please check with your GP first, and bring a snack for after the scan.
Your appointment, step by step
Arrive
Free parking at Penarth. 5-minute walk from Penarth railway station.
Meet your consultant
A brief chat about your risk factors, family history and any previous scans.
The scan (15-20 mins)
Lie on your back, warm gel applied to your tummy. The probe follows the aorta down and takes the measurement.
Immediate results
You are told your measurement and what it means before you leave. 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 simple price for a single-area scan. Combine with other scans in the same appointment for better value.
Aorta (AAA) ultrasound
- ✓Immediate results explained & written report in 24-48 hrs
- ✓Same-week appointment
- ✓No GP referral required
Bundle with another area
- ✓Two body areas in one appointment
- ✓Common combos: aorta + kidneys, aorta + abdomen
- ✓Save £160 vs two separate scans
Three areas
- ✓Three body areas in one appointment
- ✓Add which areas in your booking notes
- ✓Save £381 vs three separate scans
Booking a two or three-area scan? Please add which areas you'd like scanned in your booking notes. Not all practitioners scan every area, so our reception may call to confirm and make sure the right consultant is on for your appointment.
All prices include consultation, scan, written report, digital images and any onward referral if required.
Want the whole abdomen checked?
If you also have tummy pain, bloating or abnormal liver blood tests, the full Abdomen Ultrasound covers liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen and kidneys as well as the aorta, for the same £260.
Our Penarth clinic
Patients travel to us from Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend, Barry, Caerphilly, Swansea and the Vale.
Common questions about AAA screening
How much does a private AAA screening scan cost in Cardiff?
An aorta ultrasound at Acorn Private Clinic costs £260 all-inclusive. That covers the consultation, the scan, your measurement explained on the day, a written report within 24-48 hours, digital images and any onward referral if required. Bundle with another area for £360.
What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
The aorta is the main artery running from your heart down through your abdomen. In some people the wall weakens and the artery balloons outwards. When it measures 3 cm or more across, that is an abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA. Most cause no symptoms whatsoever, which is why they are usually found by scanning rather than by feeling unwell.
Who should have an AAA scan?
Risk rises with age and is much higher in men. Smoking is the single biggest modifiable risk factor, and having a parent or sibling with an aneurysm roughly doubles your own risk. High blood pressure and existing arterial disease also count. If you are a man over 65 who has never been scanned, or you carry any of those risk factors at any age, it is worth doing.
Isn't AAA screening free on the NHS?
For many men, yes, and if you are eligible we would encourage you to use it. The NHS programme invites men in the year they turn 65, and men over 65 who have not been screened before can usually contact their local programme and ask. People come to us privately when they have missed or declined an invitation, want it sooner than the NHS can offer, fall outside the eligible group, or simply want it done this week. We are an addition to NHS screening, not a replacement for it.
I am a woman. Can I be scanned?
Yes. Aneurysms are less common in women, which is why the NHS programme does not routinely invite them, but they do happen and they are not always picked up. If you smoke or used to, have a family history, or have high blood pressure or arterial disease, a scan is entirely reasonable and we are happy to do it.
What do the measurements mean?
Under 3 cm is normal and no follow-up is needed. 3.0 to 4.4 cm is a small aneurysm, usually rescanned yearly. 4.5 to 5.4 cm is medium and typically rescanned every three months. 5.5 cm or more is large, and the usual next step is referral to a vascular surgeon to discuss repair. Your consultant explains where you sit before you leave.
What happens if you find an aneurysm?
Your consultant explains the size and what it means straight away, so you are not left waiting on a letter. Small and medium aneurysms need monitoring rather than treatment, and we can arrange the repeat scans. If it is large, or growing quickly, we arrange onward referral to a vascular surgeon. Finding one is genuinely good news compared with not knowing about it.
Do I need to fast before the scan?
Yes — fast for 4 hours beforehand. No food, milky, fizzy or sugary drinks, chewing gum or cigarettes. Water in small sips is fine and you should take your normal medications. The aorta sits behind the bowel, so keeping bowel gas down gives a clearer view and a more accurate measurement.
How long does the scan take?
Around 15 to 20 minutes for the scan itself, plus time to discuss your history and findings. Allow about 30 minutes for the full visit. It is one of the quicker scans we do.
Is ultrasound safe?
Yes — ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation. It is the same technology used in pregnancy scans and is completely safe to repeat as often as needed, which is why it is the standard test for monitoring aneurysms over time.
Can I use this for annual monitoring of a known aneurysm?
Yes, and many patients do. Bring your previous measurements if you have them so we can compare like with like, because the trend over time matters as much as any single number. If you are already in an NHS surveillance programme, stay in it — this can sit alongside, not instead of.
Do I need a GP referral?
No — this is a self-refer scan. Book online in 60 seconds or call 029 2199 9300. We do ask that you are registered with a GP so we can send your report to them with your consent.
Can I claim this on health insurance?
Most major UK insurers (Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, Healix, Allianz) cover diagnostic ultrasound where there is a clinical indication. Screening without symptoms is less often covered. Check with your insurer for an authorisation code and bring it to your appointment.
Where do I go for the scan?
Our Penarth clinic (CF64 2AD), 10 minutes from Cardiff city centre with free street parking and ground floor access. Patients travel to us from across South Wales including Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend, Barry, Caerphilly, Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Know your number.
Self-refer for a private aorta ultrasound — consultant-led, same-week, with your measurement explained at your appointment and a written report within 24-48 hours. £260 all-inclusive.