What is Fibroscan Liver Test | Diseases | Preparation | Advantages | Benefits

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The liver is one of the most important organs in the right upper abdomen under the rib cage. It performs numerous functions such as filtering out toxins and converting nutrients into chemicals the body needs, thus contributing to the overall health of an individual. However, various factors can cause damage to the liver, such as viruses, alcohol use and obesity, affecting its normal and healthy functioning. In addition, chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis B, C, and fatty liver disease can also lead to tissue damage and subsequent formation of scar tissue, causing the liver to lose some of its elasticity and become stiffer. If left untreated, severe fibrosis (buildup of scar tissue) can lead to cirrhosis, a dangerous condition where the liver can no longer function correctly. Cirrhosis can be life-threatening.

A convenient and non-invasive way to measure the severity of liver disease is done through a scan named FibroScan. It is a reliable and painless method to measure liver scarring, or fibrosis, caused by different liver diseases. The technique used here is transient elastography.

Who needs a FibroScan?

FibroScan test is recommended to rule out or diagnose liver disease, assess if the liver disease is progressing and determine if a patient with HCV (Hepatitis C) has advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis. In some cases several measurements may be done in a year to track changes in liver over time. 

Here is a list of some diseases which may be required for the scan:

  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Alcoholic liver disease
  • Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
  • Viral infections of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
  • Chronic cholestatic diseases
  • Hemochromatosis

How should I prepare for a Fibroscan?

There are no special preparations required for the test. However, it is important not to eat or drink anything 3 hours prior to the test. During the exam, bring a list of all your current medications, including any over-the-counter or allergy medications. 

What should you expect during the test? 

Before conducting the exam, the lab technician may ask about your medical history. You need to wear loose-fitting clothing since you’ll need to have your abdominal area exposed during the procedure. A water-based gel is applied to the patient's skin, and a non-invasive probe is placed over the liver. The patient may feel some vibrations on the skin as the tip of the probe moves over the skin. The probe measures how fast the vibrations take to travel through the liver. The faster the sound waves travel through the liver, the stiffer the liver is. There isn’t a limit to the number of times the test can be performed. The real-time results help measure how well lifestyle modifications and other therapies are working.

Advantages of FibroScan

FibroScan liver test can be beneficial for people and doctors to evaluate the liver. It provides a more accurate and reliable assessment of liver stiffness and fibrosis. 

Here are some of its benefits:

Pain-free: It is a non-invasive procedure that doesn’t require hospitalization or sedation and is completely painless for patients.

Quick: The scan can be completed within 5 - 10 minutes.

Valuable tool: An important tool to assess liver health and evaluate various liver conditions, especially fatty liver disease, which can be from NASH, NAFLD, alcohol-induced, medication-induced. 

Safer than liver biopsy: In patients with fibrosis or liver cirrhosis, it provides an opportunity to serve as a non-invasive diagnostic tool to avoid an invasive biopsy.

Highly accurate: The scan offers a high degree of accuracy by measuring the degree of hardness of the liver.

Location: 14, 15 & 16, Vikas Marg, opp. Metro Pillar No. 119, near Karkarduma Metro Station, Hargobind Enclave, Main, Anand Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi, 110092, India

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