What Can I Expect With a FibroScan® Test?

FibroScan testing offers a noninvasive test way for gastrointestinal (GI) specialists to assess the health of the liver and diagnose problems that could interfere with liver function. Performed with ultrasound-based imaging, this state-of-the-art diagnostic evaluation, also referred to as transient elastography, gauges the volume of fat within a person's liver (a fatty liver condition). This liver test also permits specialists to assess the degree of stiffness in the liver tissue. A significant extent of stiffness can point to the presence of fibrotic scar tissue, hepatitis, or further problems. If fatty liver disease or fibrotic scarring is a possibility, the knowledgeable specialists at Arizona Digestive Health in Phoenix, AZ may carry out a FibroScan analysis to detect and gauge the degree of the disease.

When might a FibroScan test be recommended?

A gastroenterologist is a physician who specializes in treating liver diseases and may recommend a FibroScan analysis for patients with signs of mild to more serious liver dysfunction. A GI specialist might order FibroScan assessments for people who display at least one indication of a liver condition or damage, such as:

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
• Syndrome X
• Alcoholic liver damage
• Late-stage liver scarring (cirrhosis)
• Different kinds of hepatitis

What to expect during FibroScan testing

FibroScan is carried out at Arizona Digestive Health in Phoenix, AZ and could be advised as a replacement for a biopsy of the liver. It is normally done alongside other types of diagnostic imaging or blood work to fully assess a liver condition. During the assessment, patients lie flat on a treatment table. The ultrasound technician then passes the FibroScan imaging wand over the upper right quadrant of the abdominal area, just below the ribcage. Several pulses are applied directly into the liver, testing the pace at which sound waves make their way through the liver tissue. FibroScan tests are generally comfortable and normally take about 10 minutes or so to carry out.

Interpreting FibroScan results

After FibroScan procedures are finished, the numbers are relayed to the specialist who ordered the test. The test reveals a numerical output that denotes the level of fat buildup in the liver, also known as a CAP (controlled attenuation parameter) score, as well as a fibrosis score.

-The FibroScan CAP score is evaluated in decibels per meter and is used to determine the amount of fat cells in the liver. A higher CAP result indicates a more advanced degree of a fatty change (steatosis) and a more advanced degree of a fatty liver condition.

-The fibrosis score provides data on the degree of fibrosis (scarring) in the liver, spanning from zero to moderate or advanced (cirrhosis).

A follow-up visit with a GI doctor will be planned to review and talk about the procedure outcomes. Suggestions for treatment or lifestyle alterations may then be offered in accordance with the specific situation of the individual. Subsequent FibroScan testing can be performed on a regular basis to track the well-being of the liver or to establish if liver damage has progressed.

Discover more about FibroScan tests in Phoenix, AZ

The liver is the second largest organ in the body and plays a critical part in your overall health. A fatty liver condition and fibrosis can alter multiple aspects of your general wellness, resulting in symptoms like fatigue and abdominal swelling, and increasing the risk of liver cancer and liver failure. The skilled team at Arizona Digestive Health in Phoenix, AZ performs noninvasive transient elastography testing to identify the existence of fat in the liver or liver fibrosis. To learn if you might be a candidate for FibroScan or to plan an appointment with a trained gastroenterologist, please reach out to Arizona Digestive Health to talk to a staff member.