Ultrasound IrelandMedical & Maternity Ultrasound Centers
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Knee Ultrasound Scan

Knee Pain & Swelling Scan|€170(Medical Card: €150)(Duration: 20-30 minutes)
Preparation:No special preparation required
Results:Radiologist report sent within 2-3 working days

What Is a Knee Ultrasound Scan?

A knee ultrasound examines the structures around and just beneath the surface of your knee: the quadriceps and patellar tendons, the collateral ligaments at the sides of the joint, the bursae at the front, and the space behind the knee where a Baker's cyst forms. It's a quick, painless way to find the cause of swelling, a lump behind the knee, or pain at the front of the knee — and part of our wider musculoskeletal ultrasound service.

Being upfront about what ultrasound can and cannot do at the knee matters more here than at any other joint. Ultrasound sees around the knee extremely well, but it cannot see inside the joint — the menisci and the cruciate ligaments (ACL/PCL) are hidden behind bone. If your history suggests a meniscal or cruciate injury — a twisting injury with deep pain, locking, or giving way — MRI is the correct test, and we'd rather tell you that before you book than after. For everything else around the knee, ultrasound is often the quickest and most appropriate first test.

Because the scan is dynamic, we can also examine tendons while you bend and straighten the knee — useful for jumper's knee and clicking around the kneecap.

What We Assess With This Scan

  • Baker's cyst (a fluid swelling behind the knee)
  • Fluid on the knee (joint effusion)
  • Quadriceps and patellar tendons (jumper's knee, tears, tendinopathy)
  • Collateral ligaments — MCL and LCL — at the sides of the knee
  • Bursitis (housemaid's knee and other bursae)
  • Lumps and swellings around the knee, including meniscal cysts at the joint line
  • Osgood-Schlatter disease in adolescents
  • Iliotibial band (ITB) friction syndrome

This scan cannot assess:

  • The menisci (cartilage shock absorbers inside the joint) — MRI is the right test for a suspected meniscal tear
  • The cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL) inside the joint — MRI
  • Joint cartilage and early arthritis inside the knee (X-ray and/or MRI)

Why You Might Need This Scan

Common symptoms:

  • •Swelling of the knee or a lump behind the knee
  • •Pain at the front of the knee, especially with jumping or stairs
  • •Pain at the inner or outer joint line after a strain
  • •Clicking or snapping around the kneecap
  • •A swollen, warm area in front of the kneecap
  • •Knee pain in a growing, sporty adolescent

Conditions we assess:

  • •Baker's cyst
  • •Joint effusion (water on the knee)
  • •Patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee)
  • •Quadriceps tendon injury
  • •MCL and LCL sprains
  • •Prepatellar bursitis (housemaid's knee)
  • •Osgood-Schlatter disease
  • •ITB friction syndrome

What to Expect

Before Your Scan

No special preparation is needed.

Preparation checklist:

  • Wear shorts or loose trousers that can be rolled above the knee
  • Arrive 10 minutes before your appointment time

During the Scan

You'll lie on an examination table, first on your back and then face-down so the back of the knee can be examined. Warm gel is applied and the probe is moved around the front, sides, and back of the knee. You may be asked to bend and straighten the knee or tense your thigh so we can watch the tendons move. The scan takes 20-30 minutes.

After Your Scan

You can return to normal activities immediately.

Results & Next Steps

Your scan is reviewed by a consultant radiologist, who prepares a formal report. This report is sent to your referring doctor within 2-3 working days. Please note: our sonographers cannot provide verbal results on the day.

Pricing

Price: €170 (Medical Card: €150)

Cancellation: We require 24 hours notice for cancellations or rescheduling.

Ready to Book?

Available 7 days a week across our three Dublin locations.

Call 01 210 0232Make an Appointment

Frequently Asked Questions

No — and we'd rather be straightforward about this. The menisci and cruciate ligaments sit inside the joint where ultrasound cannot see. Ultrasound can show a meniscal cyst at the joint line, which sometimes points to an underlying tear, but a suspected meniscal or ACL injury needs MRI. If your report suggests this, it will recommend MRI.
A Baker's cyst is a fluid-filled swelling behind the knee, usually caused by fluid escaping from the joint. Ultrasound is the ideal test for it — confirming the diagnosis, measuring it, and distinguishing it from rarer causes of a lump behind the knee.
Ultrasound confirms an effusion and shows how much fluid is present, along with any thickening of the joint lining. Finding the underlying cause sometimes needs further tests, which your doctor can arrange based on the report.
Ultrasound can show fluid and inflammation associated with arthritis, but the joint-space narrowing that defines osteoarthritis is assessed with a simple X-ray. Your GP can advise which test fits your symptoms.
It depends on the injury. Pain over the inner or outer ligaments, or swelling of a tendon, suits ultrasound well. A twisting injury with deep pain, a "pop", locking, or the knee giving way points to the meniscus or ACL — which needs MRI. If you describe your injury when booking, we'll advise honestly whether ultrasound is the right first test.
A GP or physiotherapist referral is recommended as it provides useful clinical context. If you don't have one, please contact us to discuss your situation.
Your images are reviewed by a consultant radiologist and a formal report is sent within 2-3 working days.

Ready to Book Your Scan?

Our experienced team is available 7 days a week across our three Dublin locations.

Make an AppointmentCall 01 210 0232