Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
London
Consultant radiologist-led scanning and image-guided injections at our Fulham clinic.
Cared for over 15,000 patients
Established 2016
What MSK ultrasound can show
Musculoskeletal ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce real-time images of soft tissue structures that do not show clearly on X-ray. It is particularly well suited to assessing tendons, ligaments, muscles, bursae, and the soft tissue around joints, and can identify problems that other imaging modalities may miss at an early stage.
At Coyne Medical, MSK ultrasound is performed by Dr Na’eem Ahmed and Dr Neil Upadhyay, both Consultant Radiologists with subspecialty training in musculoskeletal imaging. Scans take place at our clinic on Fulham Road and you will receive a formal written report, usually within 48 hours..
Shoulder ultrasound is one of the most commonly requested MSK scans. It can assess the rotator cuff tendons in detail, identify tears, tendinopathy, and calcific deposits, and evaluate the bursa for inflammation. It is often used to assess shoulder pain, rotator cuff syndrome, and frozen shoulder, and can guide further treatment including injection therapy.
Ultrasound of the hand and wrist can assess tendons, joints, and soft tissue structures. It is used to investigate conditions including carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, ganglion cysts, and arthritis, and can identify inflammation around the small joints of the hand in patients with suspected inflammatory conditions.
MSK ultrasound can be used to assess most peripheral joints, including the hip, knee, ankle, and foot. It is useful for evaluating tendon problems, joint effusions, soft tissue lumps, and nerve entrapments, and provides real-time dynamic imaging that allows assessment of structures during movement.
Image-guided injections
Where injection treatment is appropriate, Dr Ahmed and Dr Upadhyay perform ultrasound-guided procedures to ensure precise placement. Guided injections are more accurate than landmark-based techniques and are associated with better outcomes.
Corticosteroid injections reduce inflammation and pain in tendons, bursae, and joints. Commonly used for shoulder bursitis, rotator cuff tendinopathy, tennis elbow, and other inflammatory soft tissue conditions.
Where two areas of the body require treatment in the same appointment e.g. multiple joints of hand and wrist.
A guided injection of saline and steroid into the shoulder joint capsule, used in the treatment of frozen shoulder. The fluid distends the contracted capsule, helping to restore range of movement.
Hyaluronic acid injections lubricate the joint, reducing pain and improving function. Used primarily for knee osteoarthritis. Includes the latest Ostenil preparations.
Meet the Specialists
DR NEIL UPADHYAY
MBBS BSc FRCR MRes MEd
Dr Neil Upadhyay is a Consultant Radiologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, where he subspecialises in breast and musculoskeletal radiology. He completed his medical degree and a BSc in Management with Medical Sciences with first class honours at Imperial College London, completed subspecialty training in breast and musculoskeletal radiology at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and undertook a musculoskeletal fellowship at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. He was appointed as a Consultant Radiologist in 2014.
Neil undertakes all aspects of breast imaging, including biopsies, localisations, and vacuum excisions under ultrasound and stereotactic guidance. He holds two Master’s degrees from Imperial College London, a Master’s in Education and a Master’s in Translational Research, both completed with distinction, reflecting a longstanding commitment to teaching and research in imaging.
Outside the clinic, Neil holds a season ticket at Tottenham Hotspur and finds that time with his young boys helps him recover from the results.
DR NA’EEM AHMED
MBBS BSc PGCert FRCR FHEA
Dr Na’eem Ahmed is a Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, where he was appointed in 2019 following a subspecialty fellowship in musculoskeletal imaging at the same trust. He graduated from Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals Medical School, where he received the St Thomas’ Hospital Cup, and completed radiology training across St George’s Hospital, the Royal Marsden, Great Ormond Street, and the Royal Brompton. He has completed international clinical visitations at Massachusetts General Hospital, University Hospital Zurich, and the FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence Aspetar in Qatar, and has over 50 publications and presentations. He performs musculoskeletal MRI, CT, and ultrasound, including ultrasound, fluoroscopic, and CT guided injections.
Na’eem founded Selfless in 2008, a global health NGO working in Bangladesh that supports healthcare delivery and global health leadership development in low-income settings. He has held senior advisory roles including Senior Clinical Fellow to the NHS National Medical Director and Policy Advisor to the Secretary of State for International Development. He was awarded the Points of Light Award by Prime Minister David Cameron and received the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2019.
How to request an appointment
Because the right scan depends on your symptoms, we ask all patients to submit a request before booking. If you already have a referral from a doctor, we can book you straight in.
Submit your request
Complete a short form with your personal details and upload your referral or request form if you have one. If you do not have a referral, let us know and we will arrange a brief GP consultation by phone, video, or in person.
We confirm your appointment
Once we have your referral, we will contact you to confirm the scan type, specialist, and appointment time. This normally happens within one working day.
Attend your appointment
Your scan takes place at our clinic at 660 Fulham Road, London SW6. Your consultant will review the images with you and you will receive a formal written report by email, usually within 48 hours.
Prices
| MSK ultrasound scan | £250 |
| Steroid injection (single site) | £360 |
| Steroid injection (two sites) | £460 |
| Hydrodilatation | £400 |
| Viscosupplement injection | £475 |
Your questions Answered
Please note that our specialists are independent practitioners who retain clinical responsibility for the care they provide, and they each retain their own medical indemnity.
All patients should be referred by a doctor, such as a private or NHS GP, another consultant or a health professional, such as a physiotherapist.
Please have the consultant fill out a request form (click here to download the form) and send it to our team via email before you book an appointment.
If you need help getting a referral, please feel free to book a consultation with one of our GPs.
We are not currently able to directly bill insurance companies for Ultrasound services. We have well-established relationships directly billing several major international insurers and hope to update this shortly.
We accept self-pay for Ultrasound Consultations; our price list is above.
Our consultants currently only see adults aged 18 years or over. If you need a referral for a paediatric ultrasound scan, our doctors can arrange a referral directly to the Portland Hospital or the Cromwell Hospital to see a paediatric ultrasound specialist consultant.
We are happy to share details of your care at any time with your consent with your NHS GP or other professionals such as physiotherapists involved in your care. You will also receive your own result to keep for your own records.
The Consultant Radiologist will give you a formal report of your ultrasound scan, which may include a recommendation to see a specialist. If you would like a private referral, we can arrange a consultation with one of our private GPs. We have excellent close working relationships with some of the best specialists in London.
Most MSK scans take between 20 and 30 minutes depending on the area being assessed. Injection appointments may take slightly longer. You do not need to fast or make any special preparations for most MSK scans, though you may feel more comfortable wearing loose clothing.
A scan appointment is for diagnostic imaging only. Your consultant will assess the area, produce ultrasound images, and provide a written report. An injection appointment involves both imaging and a guided therapeutic procedure. Some patients are referred directly for an injection based on a diagnosis already made elsewhere; others may have a scan first and then proceed to injection at a separate appointment if indicated.
Also at Coyne Medical
Breast Ultrasound London, consultant radiologist-led breast scanning, density assessment, and biopsy guidance.
Read more about breast ultrasound →