Fibroscan

FibroScan is a specialized ultrasound machine for your liver. It measures fibrosis (scarring) and steatosis (fatty change) in your liver. Steatosis occurs when fat tissue builds up in your liver.

Liver fibrosis occurs when your liver becomes scarred due to diseases such as Hepatitis C or fatty liver disease. It is important to know the level of steatosis and fibrosis that has occurred in order to properly treat these diseases.

Until recently the standard of care entailed an invasive surgical liver biopsy to determine the level of liver fibrosis. With Fibroscan, these invasive biopsies are no longer necessary and the level of damage to your liver can be determined using sound waves.

As an expert in fibroscan, Dr. Oleg Katcher uses this knife-free, painless procedure to help diagnose and monitor liver disease.

How the Fibroscan test works

When undergoing a Fibroscan test, a sensor is placed on top of the part of the abdomen where your liver is located. The sensor transmits low frequency sound waves called “shear waves” through your liver, and uses the velocity of the returning waves to determine the amount of fatty change which is reported as a Fibroscan score. The more scarring your liver has, the less elastic it will be. Fibroscan is not a replacement for a conventional liver ultrasound. Your doctor may also recommend that a liver ultrasound be performed to assess your liver’s structure and overall health.

What to expect during a Fibroscan test

When you are undergoing the procedure, you will not feel any pain. The whole procedure usually takes around 10 minutes. You have to refrain from eating or drinking for two hours. The doctor will provide you with all of the information and instructions that you need to be ready for the test. Eating a large meal before the test may cause your results to show that you have a higher level of fibrosis than you actually do.

The Fibroscan Results

Your results will be immediately available, and should be discussed with your physician to determine a treatment plan.

As fibrosis progresses and your liver becomes less elastic, it loses its ability to function properly. Your Fibroscan score for fatty liver disease, Hepatitis, or other liver diseases will be a number from 2.5 to 12.5 or above. These numeric scores are then translated to a liver fibrosis rating, which will be anywhere from F0 to F4. Lower numbers indicate healthier livers for both your Fibroscan results and your liver fibrosis rating.

The Fibroscan test can be used to determine the level of scarring in your liver due to:

• Hepatitis B or C
• Chronic liver disease
• Fatty liver
• Chronic alcohol abuse
• Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
• Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
• Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Hemochromatosis
• Wilson’s disease

Studies have shown that Fibroscan is highly accurate and serves as a good tool to determine the level of fibrosis. It can be used for an initial screening to determine how much liver damage you have, as well as to monitor the progression of disease over time.

Certain conditions such as active inflammation, obstructions, lesions, tumors, or congestion in the liver can result in scores that are artificially high. Patients who are obese, older, have metabolic syndrome, or have ascites are also prone to less reliable results.

Gastroenterologist Dr. Oleg Katcher, MD, is an expert in diagnosing diseases of the liver. He uses the latest technologies including, but not limited to Fibroscan to diagnose and treat patients with chronic liver diseases.