FibroScan® in Thibodaux, LA
What is FibroScan?
FibroScan is a technology utilized by the GI specialists at Digestive Health Center to noninvasively check the liver. Also known as transient elastography, this test uses state-of-the-art ultrasound technology to assess the state of fibrosis and steatosis inside the liver. Fibrosis takes place when the liver exchanges healthy tissue with cicatrix (scar) tissue to try and recover itself from a condition. Hepatic steatosis is also referred to as fatty liver disease and arises when fat accumulates inside the liver cells.
Using FibroScan, your Thibodaux, LA gastrointestinal specialist will be able to review the state and working condition of your liver and supply a diagnosis and treatment plan without aggressively probing the body to explore the liver. If you have a liver problem, contact your nearest Digestive Health Center location to learn if you may benefit from FibroScan.
Who is a candidate for FibroScan?
FibroScan analysis might be appropriate for patients who have an early-to-advanced liver illness or other conditions. These include:
- Other classes of CLD (chronic liver disease)
- PBC (primary biliary cholangitis)
- Dysmetabolic syndrome
- Cirrhosis of the liver (severe scarring)
- Certain types of hepatitis
- Alcoholic FLD (fatty liver disease)
- NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis)
- Hemochromatosis
How is FibroScan performed?
Your FibroScan examination in Thibodaux, LA is a relatively comfortable procedure that is completed in as little as 10 – 15 minutes. A detector will be situated on your skin right above your liver. This distinctive sensor radiates sound waves through your liver to measure the rate at which sound crosses through the organ. The FibroScan system then yields a group of outcomes that your Digestive Health Center provider will utilize to evaluate the level of hardness (fibrosis) present inside of your liver.
How do you understand and interpret FibroScan results?
FibroScan findings are provided based on the steatosis (fatty liver disease) grade and fibrosis score. The following charts consist of general reports relating to what the results of the examination could show. You can review your results in specifics with your Digestive Health Center gastroenterologist following your FibroScan scan.
Steatosis grade: The fatty change findings describes the level of fatty change in the liver and are delivered through a CAP score (controlled attenuation parameter), which is calculated in dB/m (decibels per meter). The reach is from 100 to 400 dB/m, and assorted ranges result in a different fatty liver grade.
Fibrosis score: The fibrosis end result is an evaluation of the scarring of the liver and symbolizes the degree of scarring that the liver has experienced. Your gastrointestinal specialists will utilize your FibroScan findings combined with your medical history to discern your fibrosis score. Different liver diseases and conditions can affect the fibrosis score.
F0 to F1: Void of scarring/minimal scarring
F2: Medium scarring
F3: Extreme scarring
F4: Advanced scarring (cirrhosis)
What are the benefits of FibroScan?
Because FibroScan uses ultrasound technology, there is little to no threat associated with the procedure. FibroScan is a noninvasive ultrasound technique and is more enjoyable than traditional alternatives. It allows for an extensive exploration of the entire liver instead of a view of just a minor fragment that occurs in a liver biopsy. Other benefits include:
- No sedation is needed for FibroScan
- It is relatively affordable
- The procedure is rapidly accomplished
- The results are immediate
FibroScan® FAQs
How should I prepare for my FibroScan test?
If you discover that you require an ERCP, you’ll likely have several questions or concerns and may be unsure of where to start. Questions to consider asking your gastrointestinal doctor may include:
- If a complication should arise, are there any symptoms or signs you might experience?
- What is the general success rate of this procedure?
- What does your doctor anticipate finding during this procedure?
What liver conditions can FibroScan assess?
The FibroScan can discover and measure the progression of a range of liver conditions. Some of these conditions include:
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
- Hepatitis B or C
- Hemochromatosis
Is there a difference between an ultrasound and Fibroscan?
The FibroScan test is a variation of ultrasound that uses the exact same technology a typical ultrasound is known to use (transient elastography). And while they are very similar, FibroScan was invented especially to evaluate the stiffness of the liver and is, therefore, more sensitive to discovering liver issues than a normal ultrasound.
Is FibroScan more advanced than a liver biopsy?
The FibroScan is a common nonsurgical and minimally invasive option to a liver biopsy. However, there may be certain circumstances in which a liver biopsy might be the better choice. This may include circumstances in which we’re seeing a patient who has a pacemaker or defibrillator, who is pregnant, or has fluid in the abdomen. It’s also been discovered that results may be distorted in individuals who are considered obese. Therefore, our Digestive Health Center GI providers will closely work with you to decide if FibroScan or a liver biopsy is better for your needs.
