What is a carotid ultrasound scan?
A safe, painless Doppler ultrasound of the two carotid arteries in your neck, the main vessels that supply blood to the brain. It measures how fast blood flows through each artery, looks for plaque on the artery wall and grades any narrowing. It is also called a carotid Doppler, a carotid duplex or a neck artery scan.
What can a carotid ultrasound detect?
Carotid stenosis (narrowing of the artery), plaque from atherosclerosis and how stable it looks, changes in blood flow that grade the degree of narrowing, and a completely blocked artery. These findings are the ones used to assess stroke risk.
Who should have a carotid ultrasound?
Consider a carotid scan if you
- Have had a TIA or mini stroke
- Have been told you have carotid artery disease or a carotid bruit
- Have risk factors for stroke such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking or a family history
- Have had a carotid endarterectomy or stent and need follow-up
- Have had brief weakness, vision loss or difficulty speaking that resolved
If you have those symptoms now, call 999 rather than booking a scan.
Can a carotid ultrasound check my stroke risk?
Yes. Carotid artery disease accounts for around one in five ischaemic strokes, and ultrasound is the first-line test NICE recommends for finding it. The scan shows narrowing, plaque and flow changes, the established risk factors, and your specialist explains what your result means and what, if anything, needs to change.
What is a carotid bruit?
A whooshing sound a doctor hears with a stethoscope over the side of your neck. It can mean turbulent flow from a narrowed artery, though it is not a reliable sign on its own. If your GP has heard one, a carotid ultrasound is the recommended next step to find out whether there is a narrowing and how significant it is.
Does a carotid ultrasound hurt?
No. The probe rests on the skin with warm gel and is moved gently along each side of the neck. There are no needles, no contrast and no radiation, and you can go straight back to your day afterwards.
How long does a carotid ultrasound take?
Twenty to thirty minutes for both sides, including the Doppler measurements. With a short conversation beforehand and time to explain the result, you are usually with us for about forty minutes.
Do I need to prepare for a carotid scan?
No. There is no fasting and no special preparation. Wear something with an open neckline and bring any recent blood pressure or cholesterol results if you have them.
How accurate is a carotid ultrasound?
Very. Carotid Doppler has been validated against angiography and uses established velocity criteria to put any narrowing into a recognised category. Where a narrowing sits near a treatment threshold, your specialist may recommend CT or MR angiography to confirm it before any procedure is planned.
What happens if carotid stenosis is found?
Your specialist explains the degree of narrowing and what it means. Mild narrowing is usually managed with medication, such as statins and blood pressure control, and lifestyle changes. Moderate to severe narrowing comes with a referral recommendation to a vascular surgeon to discuss whether surgery or a stent is appropriate. Your report carries everything they need.
Can a carotid ultrasound monitor a stent?
Yes. Ultrasound is the standard way to check that a carotid stent or a treated artery is staying open, and to spot any re-narrowing. It can be repeated as often as your vascular surgeon recommends because it uses no radiation.
What do the colours on a carotid ultrasound mean?
Colour Doppler paints blood flowing towards the probe in one colour and away from it in another, with brighter shades for faster flow. A narrowing shows as a bright, turbulent jet. Your specialist explains the picture as it appears, so the colours never need decoding on your own.
Can a carotid ultrasound be wrong?
It is a highly accurate first-line test, but no test is perfect. Heavy calcification on a plaque can hide the artery beneath it, and a very tight narrowing can occasionally be mistaken for a blockage. That is why a narrowing near a treatment threshold is confirmed with CT or MR angiography before any procedure.
How much does a carotid ultrasound cost in the UK?
At Harley Street Ultrasound a private carotid ultrasound costs £330, all fees inclusive. The Doppler scan of both arteries, the specialist’s time, your written report and images. Same-day and next-day appointments are usually available and no GP referral is needed.
What if you find something?
Your specialist tells you in the room, in plain English, and explains exactly what it means. You will never be sent home to wait for a letter. Most findings are benign and need nothing more than a sensible review date.
Anything that does need attention gets a clear, objective recommendation in your report: monitor, test further, or refer. Follow-up tests can usually be arranged at 99 Harley Street, often the same week, and those results are also explained to you personally.
Do I need a referral?
No. Harley Street Ultrasound is a private clinic, so you can book a carotid ultrasound in London directly online or by phone. No GP letter, no waiting list, and same-day or next-day appointments are usually available. If you are searching for a carotid ultrasound near me from anywhere in central London, we are at 99 Harley Street, a short walk from Regent’s Park and Oxford Circus stations.
If you are wondering how much a private carotid ultrasound costs, the answer is published before you book: £330, all fees inclusive: the examination, the specialist’s time, your written report and your images. Insured patients should bring a referral or authorisation number if their policy requires one.
How soon will I have the written report?
Usually the same day: a Harley Street carotid ultrasound comes with same-day results as standard, and you will already know the findings, because they are explained to you on screen during the appointment.
The written report is prepared by the specialist team and published to your secure patient portal together with your images, with measurements and a clear recommendation, ready to share with your GP or specialist.
What happens after the scan?
Nothing special: there is no aftercare needed. You can eat, drive and go back to work straight away. Diagnostic ultrasound at these intensities has no confirmed adverse effects, which is why it can be repeated safely for monitoring. If your results suggest a next step, your specialist explains it before you leave.
Can I still use the NHS afterwards?
Yes: completely. Coming to us privately never affects your NHS care. Our job is to get you answers quickly; if anything needs urgent attention, your specialist writes to your NHS GP recommending an urgent appointment, so you re-enter the NHS pathway with a diagnosis already in hand rather than joining the queue from the start.
