Thorax Ultrasound Scan
A thorax ultrasound is a focused scan of the chest wall and the lining around the lungs (the pleura), used for chest wall lumps, rib and muscle injuries near the surface, and fluid around the lung.
Written by the MyScanHub content team4 minutes reading time
From
£140
All-inclusive. Reported by a consultant radiologist or clinical specialist sonographer within 72 hours.
- Radiologists & specialist sonographers
- CQC registered
- GDPR compliant
- Report within 72 hours
What is a Thorax Ultrasound Scan?
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves — no radiation and no injections — to produce real-time images of soft tissues and organs.
Ultrasound is safe, painless, and radiation-free — making it a first-line investigation for many conditions of the chest wall.
Is this scan right for you?
Common reasons for having this scan include:
- A lump or swelling on the chest wall
- Pain after a rib or chest wall injury
- Suspected fluid around the lung (pleural effusion)
- A swelling your GP has asked to have assessed
What a Thorax Ultrasound Scan can find
Ultrasound can identify:
- Chest wall lumps, including lipomas and cysts
- Rib and cartilage injuries near the surface
- Pleural effusion (fluid around the lung)
- Muscle tears and haematomas of the chest wall
What it cannot do
Ultrasound cannot see through air, so it does not assess the lungs themselves or anything behind the ribs. Lung and chest symptoms such as a persistent cough or breathlessness are investigated with a chest X-ray or CT arranged by a clinician. A normal scan does not exclude all causes of chest pain. Please share your report with your GP or specialist for clinical interpretation.
What happens on the day
- 1Check in at our clinic in the Guildhall Outer Car Park at Bluewater. Parking is free.
- 2You will need the area uncovered. A little gel goes on the skin and a small handheld probe is moved over it; the sonographer may press gently to see how a lump moves.
- 3The scan takes about 20 minutes. There are no needles and nothing to recover from: you can drive and go back to work straight away.
- 4Your written report is uploaded to your secure patient account within 72 hours.
Preparing for your Thorax Ultrasound Scan
On the day of your scan:
- Wear a top that is easy to remove
- No fasting is required
Please notify the team if:
- You are pregnant or might be pregnant
- You have any open wounds or skin infections in the scanning area
- You have relevant medical history (diabetes, cardiac, blood thinners)
- You have allergies to latex or ultrasound gel
Your report
All diagnostic scans at MyScanHub are performed and reported by GMC-registered Consultant Radiologists or HCPC-registered Clinical Specialist Sonographers. Your written report is delivered securely to your patient portal within 72 hours.
You can download the report and your images from your patient account to share with your GP, physiotherapist or specialist, or add a GP consultation to talk the findings through. How to open and share your results.
Why consider a private Ultrasound scan for the chest wall?
When you need answers quickly — or when prior imaging has been inconclusive — a private Ultrasound at MyScanHub gives you timely access and specialist reporting without the wait.
Private scan benefits include:
- Fast access — same-day or next-day appointments, no waiting list
- Consultant radiologist or clinical specialist sonographer report within 72 hours
- Fully-private, CQC-registered, GDPR-compliant imaging centre
- Secure online access to your report and images, easy to share with your GP or specialist
Smarter scanning. Proactive health. Peace of mind.
Step 1
Choose
Pick a scan or a programme. No GP referral required.
Step 2
Book
Select a time online — same-day availability most weekdays.
Step 3
Scan
Be seen by specialists at our Dartford, Kent imaging centre.
Step 4
Results
Your written report within 72 hours, in your secure patient account.
Frequently asked questions
Does the scan look at my lungs or heart?
No. Air in the lungs blocks ultrasound, so the scan assesses the chest wall and the lining around the lungs, not the lungs or the heart. For those, a chest X-ray, a CT or an echocardiogram is the right test.
Can it show a broken rib?
Often, yes: a crack near the surface and the swelling around it show on ultrasound, sometimes when an X-ray is normal. It cannot see every rib fracture, and a chest injury with breathing difficulty needs urgent assessment.
How long does a chest wall ultrasound take?
About 20 minutes, including time to explain what was seen.
Will a normal scan rule everything out?
No. Ultrasound is excellent for tendons, bursae, nerves and the tissues near the skin, but it cannot see well inside a joint or into bone. If your scan is normal and your symptoms continue, the report will say what to consider next, usually an MRI.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can book directly, and every scan is reported by a consultant radiologist or a clinical specialist sonographer. You can share the report with your GP afterwards.
When will I get my report?
Your written report, from a GMC-registered consultant radiologist or an HCPC-registered clinical specialist sonographer, is delivered securely to your patient account within 72 hours of your scan, with your images alongside it.
Where is the clinic?
Our imaging centre is at Bluewater Shopping Centre, Dartford, Kent (DA9 9ST), in the Guildhall Outer Car Park — free parking, a few minutes from junction 2 of the M25 and the A2. We're open Monday to Saturday 8am–9pm and Sunday 10am–5pm. Full directions are sent with your booking confirmation.
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Ready to book your Thorax Ultrasound Scan?
Book online in minutes. Same-day and next-day slots available most weekdays in Dartford, Kent. Reported by a consultant radiologist or clinical specialist sonographer within 72 hours.
At our clinic in Bluewater Shopping Centre, Dartford: free parking, open seven days. How to find us · All private ultrasound scans in Dartford & Kent