Male Scans
Upper Abdomen
Pain under the ribs, bloating that will not settle, or a blood test that has flagged your liver. An upper abdominal ultrasound looks at the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen and kidneys in one appointment and shows up gallstones, fatty liver, cysts and other changes that explain symptoms. Carried out and reported by a qualified sonographer in Great Yarmouth, usually within a few days of booking.
Prices from £175
Upper Abdomen​ Private Scan Norfolk
What Is An Upper Abdomen Scan?
This scan uses ultrasound to look at the organs in the upper part of your abdomen. A small handheld probe is moved across the skin below your ribs and sound waves build a live image on screen, so your sonographer can see the structure and texture of each organ in real time. There is no radiation and no injection.
It is often the first test used to investigate upper abdominal pain because it is excellent at finding gallstones and at showing changes in the liver including fatty infiltration, cysts or enlargement. Fatty liver in particular is common in men and frequently silent until a blood test picks it up. The scan also gives a clear view of the spleen, the kidneys, the aorta and, where bowel gas allows, the pancreas, which makes it a sensible single test when symptoms are vague and could be coming from more than one place.
Included in your scan
What’s Covered
- Liver: size, texture, fatty change, cysts and any focal abnormality.
- Gallbladder: stones, wall thickening, polyps and sludge.
- Bile ducts: width of the ducts, which can show whether a stone has moved into them.
- Pancreas: as much as bowel gas allows, including obvious cysts or swelling.
- Spleen: size and any obvious abnormality.
- Both kidneys: size, structure, cysts and stones.
Registered & Regulated
Norfolk Medical Imaging is registered with the Care Quality Commission and every scan is performed by a sonographer registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. The person who scans you is the person who reports your images and explains what they mean. Nothing is sent anywhere to be read.
Upper Abdomen​ Private Ultrasound
Who is it for?
If any of these sound familiar, an upper abdominal scan is a sensible place to start. It looks at the organs most likely to be responsible and gives you a clear answer either way.
Pain Under the Ribs
Especially on the right side and after eating, which is the classic pattern for gallstones.
Persistent Bloating
Bloating, nausea or indigestion that has gone on for weeks despite simple remedies.
Abnormal Liver Tests
Raised liver enzymes on a blood test, usually followed up with an ultrasound.
Regular Drinkers
An honest look at what alcohol has done to the liver, and a baseline going forward.
History of Gallstones
Checking whether stones are still present and the gallbladder wall looks healthy.
Unexplained Weight Loss
A reasonable early step, alongside seeing your GP for a full assessment.
Upper Abdomen​ Private Ultrasound Norfolk
What To Expect
A comfortable, painless scan with one piece of preparation that genuinely matters: arriving with an empty stomach. Get that right and the whole appointment is straightforward, with your results explained before you leave.
Duration
Around 20 minutes of scanning. Allow up to 30 minutes at the clinic so nothing feels rushed, with time to talk through what has been found before you leave.
Preparation
Do not eat for six hours before your appointment. Fasting keeps the gallbladder full, which is essential for assessing it, and reduces bowel gas over the pancreas. Still water is fine and regular medication should be taken as normal. If you are diabetic or cannot fast, tell us when you book.
What the experience is like
You will lie on a couch with your abdomen exposed. Warm gel is applied and the probe is moved below your ribs and around to your sides. You will be asked to breathe in and hold at points, and perhaps roll onto your side. None of it hurts, just light pressure.
Upper Abdomen
What to expect
Prices From £175 - £250
One price covering the scan, the sonographer's time and your written report. No consultation fee and nothing added on afterwards. If we recommend looking at another area on the day, we will tell you the cost before we do it.
Book Upper Abdomen Scan Now
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, ultrasound is the best first test for gallstones and finds the great majority of them, provided the gallbladder is full. That is why the fasting matters. It will also show whether the gallbladder wall is inflamed and whether the bile ducts are widened, which can suggest a stone has moved.
It can show the changes in liver texture that fatty liver causes and give a good indication of how marked they are. It cannot measure scarring precisely, so if significant liver disease is suspected your GP may arrange further tests such as a Fibroscan or blood panel.
No single scan can do that, and it is important to be honest about it. Ultrasound can find many significant abnormalities in the liver, kidneys and other organs, but a normal scan does not exclude every possibility, particularly in the pancreas and bowel. If you have red flag symptoms such as weight loss, persistent vomiting or jaundice, please see your GP alongside booking, not instead of.
Ultrasound cannot see inside the stomach or bowel, as they are filled with air and food. Symptoms such as heartburn or a change in bowel habit are better investigated with endoscopy through your GP. What this scan does well is check the solid organs around them.
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