Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral)
Private one-breast ultrasound in London from £190, available in clinic or at home for focused assessment of lumps, cysts and breast tissue.
Turnaround time
1 day
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Overview of the Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral)
The Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral) is a focused ultrasound examination of one breast and the specific area of concern.
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves rather than ionising radiation.
It is particularly useful for assessing a palpable breast lump, localised breast pain, a focal area of thickening or an abnormality identified during another examination.
Ultrasound can help determine whether a lump is fluid-filled, such as a simple cyst, or solid.
It can also identify features that suggest whether a finding appears benign or requires further investigation.
However, breast ultrasound should not be viewed as a replacement for the complete breast diagnostic pathway.
Depending on age, symptoms and clinical findings, mammography, breast examination and biopsy can also be required.
A normal ultrasound cannot exclude every breast cancer.
Any new breast lump or persistent unusual breast change should therefore be clinically assessed.
The unilateral service examines one breast and is available as a clinic visit or home visit.
What Does the Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral) Assess?
Focal breast tissue
Assesses the symptomatic or clinically identified region of one breast.
Breast ducts
Selected visible ductal abnormalities can be assessed.
Cysts
Determines whether a lump is fluid-filled.
Solid masses
Assesses the shape, margins and internal characteristics of a solid lesion.
Fibroadenoma-type appearances
Some benign solid lesions can have characteristic features.
Local inflammation
Selected inflammatory changes or collections can be detected.
Relevant axillary tissue
The nearby armpit region may be assessed when clinically appropriate.
Who May Benefit From the Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral)?
People with a new lump in one breast - Ultrasound can characterise the palpable area.
People with persistent localised breast pain - Structural causes can be investigated where appropriate.
People with focal thickening or swelling - Ultrasound can assess the underlying tissue.
People with a previously identified breast cyst - Repeat imaging can assess change.
People with a focal abnormality on another breast investigation - Targeted ultrasound can provide additional information.
Younger people with a palpable breast concern - Ultrasound is commonly used as part of breast assessment.
People requiring follow-up of a known benign lesion - Repeat imaging may be recommended.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral)
A new lump in one breast - Every new breast lump should be appropriately assessed.
Persistent focal breast pain - Ultrasound may identify a cyst or other local structural finding.
Localised breast swelling - Fluid collections or focal tissue changes can be investigated.
A change in the texture of one breast - Imaging can assess the corresponding area.
A previously identified cyst or fibroadenoma - Follow-up can assess stability.
An abnormal finding after examination or mammography - Ultrasound can provide complementary structural information.
A lump close to the armpit - Breast and selected axillary structures can be evaluated.
A new breast lump, nipple inversion, bloodstained nipple discharge, skin dimpling or another persistent breast change should be clinically assessed.
A private ultrasound should not be used to self-clear a breast lump without appropriate breast assessment, because some breast cancers are not visible on ultrasound alone.
How to Prepare for the Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral)
No special dietary preparation is required.
The scan can be performed in clinic or at home according to the service selected.
What Happens During the Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral)?
Is the Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral) Safe?
Breast ultrasound uses sound waves and does not use ionising radiation.
It is non-invasive and does not compress the breast in the same way as mammography.
No injection is required for a standard breast ultrasound.
The examination can also be performed during pregnancy when clinically appropriate.
How to Book Your Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral)
Choose the Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral)
Select the focused one-breast ultrasound.
Select your appointment type
Choose an available clinic or home-visit appointment.
Identify the breast and area
Tell the provider which side and where the concern is located.
Attend or receive your appointment
A qualified imaging professional performs the examination.
Focused assessment
The symptomatic area is imaged and documented.
Receive your report
The authorised breast ultrasound report is provided securely.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The current reporting turnaround is approximately 1 day after the scan.
Where a suspicious finding is identified, further breast-clinic assessment, mammography or biopsy may be recommended.
The formal report should be interpreted alongside clinical examination where a palpable lump is present.
Understanding Your Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral) Results
A scan can show normal breast tissue, a simple cyst or a solid lesion.
Simple cysts usually have characteristic benign appearances.
Solid masses require assessment of their shape, orientation, borders and internal features.
Some solid lesions have reassuring features, while others require further imaging or biopsy.
Ultrasound does not provide a definitive diagnosis of every breast lesion.
Biopsy remains necessary when tissue diagnosis is required.
What Can the Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral) Detect?
Breast cysts - Fluid-filled lesions can usually be identified accurately.
Solid breast masses - Ultrasound can assess their structural appearance.
Fibroadenoma-type lesions - Some benign masses have characteristic ultrasound features.
Inflammatory collections - Abscesses and fluid collections can be demonstrated.
Ductal changes - Selected visible duct abnormalities can be identified.
Selected suspicious lesions - Findings requiring breast-specialist review can be recognised.
Limitations of the Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral)
Ultrasound does not replace mammography in all patients - The two investigations are complementary.
Not every breast cancer is visible on ultrasound - A normal scan does not completely exclude malignancy.
Microcalcifications are better assessed with mammography - Ultrasound can miss them.
Biopsy may still be required - Imaging cannot provide histological confirmation.
Only one breast is assessed by this product - Bilateral concerns require the two-breast scan.
Why Book the Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral) With London Blood Tests?
Focused assessment of one breast - The specific symptomatic area can be examined in detail.
Clinic and home options - Choose the service setting that suits you.
No ionising radiation - Ultrasound uses sound waves.
Useful for cysts and palpable lumps - Fluid and solid lesions can be differentiated.
Real-time imaging - The symptomatic area can be examined directly.
Can complement mammography - The two modalities provide different information.
Fast reporting - Results are expected approximately 1 day after scanning.
Clear pricing - The Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral) starts from £190.
Private Breast Ultrasound (Unilateral) in London
London Blood Tests provides private unilateral Breast Ultrasound appointments in London.
The service starts from £190 and is available as a clinic visit or home visit.
One breast is assessed for focal lumps, cysts and other structural abnormalities.
The authorised report is expected approximately 1 day after scanning.