Private Child Chest / Thorax Ultrasound

Your child might need a chest / thorax ultrasound if you, your GP or a paediatrician have noticed a lump or swelling on the chest wall, a tender or firm area near the ribs, or if there is a concern about fluid building up around the lungs (a pleural effusion). It is also a helpful next step when a palpable lump needs to be characterised, or when a swelling has appeared after a knock or a chest infection.

Most chest-wall lumps in children turn out to be completely harmless. Things like a prominent rib, a small cyst, or a soft-tissue swelling often settles on its own. But because it is not always possible to tell from the outside, a gentle scan is the quickest, calmest way to find out what is really there and put your mind at rest.

A chest / thorax ultrasound assesses:

• Chest-wall lumps, swellings and superficial thoracic structures.
• Fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion), including roughly how much and where.
• The diaphragm and how well it moves.
• Soft-tissue and cyst-like changes near the ribs.

What ultrasound cannot do is see through the air inside the lungs. Because sound waves do not travel well through air, ultrasound does not image deep lung tissue itself. If the lung tissue or airways need to be looked at, a chest X-ray or CT scan is the right test, and we will tell you clearly if that is the case (see FAQ 9).

A chest ultrasound uses safe, pain-free sound waves to create live pictures on a screen. There are no needles, no radiation and no injection. A small amount of warm, clear gel is placed on the skin and the sonographer gently glides a smooth hand-held probe over the area of interest.

The scan is completely radiation-free, and able to be repeated as often as needed without any concern. Your child stays awake and comfortable throughout, usually sitting on your lap or lying down, and most scans take only a few minutes.

We also use Colour Doppler to look at the blood supply within a lump, which gives extra information about what it is.

We design every paediatric appointment around keeping your child calm and comfortable. You stay with your child the whole time, and you are welcome to bring a favourite toy, comforter or tablet to help them relax.

The scan itself is simple and gentle:

• Your child sits on your lap or lies down, whichever they prefer, and the sonographer explains the procedure
• A little warm gel is applied to the chest and the sonographer moves a smooth probe gently over the area. It does not hurt and feels a bit like being tickled with something cool and slippery.
• The gel wipes off easily, and your child can get dressed and carry on with their day straight away.

Your sonographer will talk you through what they can see on the screen as they go, so you understand the findings before you leave.

There is very little to do, one of the nicest things about a chest ultrasound is that it needs no special preparation. Your child does not need to fast, drink extra water or stop any regular medication.

The most helpful thing you can do is a little gentle reassurance beforehand: explain that the scan does not hurt, that it is a bit like having a photo taken of the inside of their chest, and that you will be right there with them. Dressing your child in something easy to lift or remove around the chest makes the appointment quicker and calmer.

If your child is anxious, let us know when you book, our paediatric sonographers are very experienced at putting nervous children at ease and will take all the time that is needed.

Yes, a chest ultrasound is extremely safe. It uses harmless sound waves, exactly the same technology used to scan babies during pregnancy. There is no radiation, no needles and no injection, and there are no known side effects before, during or after the scan.

Your child can return to normal activity immediately afterwards, and the scan can be safely repeated as often as needed if your specialist wants to keep an eye on something over time.

You shouldn’t have to wait for important answers about your baby’s health. That’s why, at the Harley Street Ultrasound Group, we give you same-day results.

Your specialist senior sonographer will talk you through what they can see during the scan itself, so you leave the room with an understanding of your child's findings. Your full medical report with tailored advice and any recommended next steps will be ready the same day, along with high-resolution digital images of the scan.

You can view and share both the report and the images securely from any internet-connected device, including your phone, and forward them directly to your GP, health visitor or a paediatric specialist.

The great majority of chest scans in children are reassuring. The most common findings include:

• Normal anatomy: a prominent rib, cartilage or normal muscle that simply felt like a lump from the outside.
• A small, benign soft-tissue swelling or cyst, often something that will settle on its own.
• A small amount of fluid around the lung that can be measured and monitored.
• Post-infective or post-injury changes that are expected to improve with time.

If a finding needs a closer look or follow-up, your report explains exactly what it is and what the recommended next step would be, in clear language, with no medical jargon, so you always know where you stand.

Ultrasound is the right first test for soft tissue, chest-wall lumps and fluid, but it is not the right test for everything. Because sound waves cannot travel through the air inside the lungs, ultrasound cannot image deep lung tissue or the airways.

If the question is about the lung tissue itself, in the case of suspected pneumonia, a problem deep inside the chest, or a fuller picture of the bones, then a chest X-ray or CT scan is usually the more appropriate test. An X-ray involves a very small dose of radiation, and a CT a higher dose, so these are recommended only when they will genuinely add useful information.

If your child needs imaging that ultrasound cannot provide, we will tell you honestly and explain what to ask your GP or paediatrician for, so your child gets exactly the right test.

For almost every child, the answer is no. A chest ultrasound is painless and quick. The only sensations are a little cool gel and the smooth probe gliding over the skin, which most children find more interesting than uncomfortable.

Some younger children are wary of anything new, and that is completely normal. Our paediatric sonographers are gentle, patient and used to working at a child’s pace. You can stay close, hold your child, and we can pause at any time.

There is nothing to recover from afterwards: your child can go straight back to playing, eating and their normal routine.

A Private Child Chest / Thorax Ultrasound at the Harley Street Ultrasound Group is £350, all fees inclusive.

What’s included in the price:

• One-to-one appointment with a specialist senior sonographer.
• Gentle, child-friendly chest / thorax ultrasound with Colour Doppler where helpful.
• Detailed written medical report with tailored advice.
• Same-day high-resolution digital images delivered to your secure portal.
• No referral required and no waiting list, most families are seen within 24 to 48 hours.

We accept self-pay and most major UK private health insurers. If you have insurance, please contact your provider before booking to confirm your policy covers a private child pelvic ultrasound, and our team is happy to provide any details they need.

Many parents worry that coming to us privately will somehow affect their baby’s NHS care. That simply is not the case.

Our goal is to give you answers as quickly as possible and get your baby on the right path fast. When you come to us, your child is seen by a qualified specialist who can investigate their symptoms the same day. If your child needs further care, our specialist will write to your NHS GP advising them, and your report and images can be shared securely with any NHS paediatric team.

We don’t want you waiting weeks for answers. Your child’s health and your peace of mind is priceless.