FibroScan®
Situated on the right side, in your upper right-hand part of the tummy, the liver is the largest solid organ in your body and one of the hardest working. Your liver has three main functions: It cleans your blood, produces an important digestive liquid called bile, and it stores energy in the form of a sugar called glycogen. There are three main causes of chronic liver disease: Metabolic dysfunction associated liver disease (MASLD) and Metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH), viral hepatitis (HCV and HBV) and alcohol. Chronic liver disease is silent and underdiagnosed. Damage to the liver caused by chronic liver diseases can often be reversed by early diagnosis and intervention.
What is the FibroScan®?
Fibroscan® is the recognized standard for non-invasive assessment of liver disease. FibroScan® is FDA cleared to quantitively measure liver stiffness and ultrasound attenuation, providing important information for treating patients across the spectrum of liver disease. Fibroscan® works by emitting a pulse of energy, which patients feel as a slight vibration on their skin. It then measures the speed of this energy to rapidly determine liver stiffness.
Benefits of a FibroScan® exam:
- Painless 10 minute procedure
- Non-invasive
- Examined area is 100x the size of a needle biopsy
- Consistent results
How is a FibroScan® examination performed?
The exam begins with the patient lying down with their right arm raised behind their head. The operator applies a water-based gel to the skin and positions the probe with a slight pressure. The results are delivered at the end of the examination. The exam is painless, non-invasive, and usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. In cases of active liver disease, the examination can be safely repeated. FibroScan® provides immediate results to the operator, then Dr. Grossman will interpret the results according to the patient’s history and underlying disease.
The examination process
Before: Wear comfortable clothes that allow access to the right side of your rib cage. You should fast for at least 3 hours before your examination. During this time, you can drink water only.
During: You will lie on your back with your right arm above your head, cross your right leg over your left to help open your rib spaces, and a gel will be applied, and the probe will be placed between your rib spaces.
After: Dr. Grossman will receive your results immediately following the examination. He will discuss any necessary clinical actions based on your overall health.
Cardiometabolic diseases and implications on liver diseases
Fatty liver is strongly associated with cardiometabolic diseases such as:
- Prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Hypertension
- Insulin resistance
- Blood lipid disorders
- Sleep apnea
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Hypothyroidism
*To schedule a FibroScan® examination call our office today to make an appointment.