Fibro scan is one of the medical tools for diagnosing the health and diseases of the liver. By using ultrasound technology for a liver scan called transient elastography, the stiffness of the liver, liver fibrosis and fatty liver will be detected through fibro scan without any pain or risk. Unlike the normal liver test, the fibro scan needs no direct piercing to analyze the liver. This method of liver scan is more convenient with the thorough liver result indication, which leads to early treatment when any problems are found in the liver.
What is Fibro Scan
Fibro scan is the alternative method for diagnosing the liver. At first, people may question what a fibro scan is. It is a rapid convenient test which is painless and has no surgery requirement. To fibro scan the liver, it will use an ultrasound wave to examine the condition. The liver scan will detect the abnormalities as it is found by the fibro scan, and the physician can provide the treatment to cope with the disease that occurs before it completely reveals the symptoms.
Limitation of Fibro Scan
Though this method is full of easiness, fibro scan will efficiently work only under some conditions or circumstances. These are the limitation of fibro scans:
- Fibroscan is made for liver scans only. Using it with other organs may unintentionally cause damage.
- It cannot be utilized for all patients, only some allow proceeding under the conditions for a fully productive result.
- Do not use fibro scan with patients who have ascites or oedema, the ultrasound wave will worsen the disease than before.
- Do not use on a patient who gains a large amount of wall fat or is morbidly obese, the result of a fibro scan might be invalid and unreliable.
- Pregnant patients should not be allowed to use or stay nearby fibro scan, the development of the fetus will be affected by the fibrous spectrum while it is activated.
- A patient who has the body equipment should not use a fibro scan, there might be a malfunction of the equipment after being affected by the frequency which may cause future damage.
Indications for Fibro Scan
There are some symptoms that are signs of a damaged liver. The change of skin colour to yellowish or jaundiced, abdominal is in pain and swelling, legs or ankles too. These are the sign of abnormalities in the liver which must be examined abruptly. Patients might wonder why the doctor suggests liver scans by ultrasound technology. The easiness of liver scans will provide earlier treatment and detect the following diseases:
- Alcoholic liver disease: The main cause of this disease is heavy alcohol consumption. The effect of this disease depends on the drinking level and the total drinking time. It could lead to liver failure if the inflammation keeps going.
- Hemochromatosis: The beyond-necessary absorption of iron causes this disease. The excess iron will be stored in the liver and other parts of the body, causing complications and damage to the liver in the future.
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: as know as NAFLD is when a large amount of fat is accumulated in the liver cells. It increases the possibility of liver damage.
- Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: or it can be called NASH, it is similar to NAFLD but its effects are more severe. NASH could cause liver damage and cirrhosis, both diseases that lead to liver failure. Viral Hepatitis: Hepatitis in the liver is Hepatitis B and C, which is the inflammation of the liver caused by the infection. Hepatitis C tends to increase the chance to develop inflammation into cirrhosis or cancer in the liver, even liver failure.
FibroScan Procedure
Fibro scan takes about 10 minutes to complete with non-invasive surgery. The water-based gel is applied to the patient’s skin and the probe is positioned on the liver. This probe transmits ultrasound waves to examine the liver, which can cause vibrations on the skin.
How to Prepare for Fibro Scan
Avoid drinking alcohol for 2 weeks prior and do not eat anything before using the fibro scan for 3 hours.
Process of Fibro Scan
The fibro scan procedure normally takes around 5 minutes to proceed. The patient will lie and expose the right part of the abdomen, which is the place of the liver. The probe will send an ultrasound wave to examine the condition of the liver and cause the ticklish feeling around the skin.
Fibro Scan Results
The fibro scan result will provide the CAP score and fibrosis score.
- CAP score: It is the indicator of fatty change in the liver. CAP is measured in decibels per meter (dB/m) which is related to steatosis level. A CAP score that is lower than 5% will be considered a healthy liver. The higher percentage can be mild fatty liver or if it is higher than 66%, it will damage the liver.
- Fibrosis score: It is up to the damage that occurs in the liver. The fibrosis score will use the measurement as kilopascals (kPa). The healthy liver result will reveal a lower score, 2-6 kPa is an average result. A high score can display damaged liver or even the occurrence of cirrhosis.
Fibro Scan FAQ
Fibro scan still counts as the new technology. Some of the patients may have a doubt about this process and worry about it. This part will clarify those FAQs.
Ultrasound & Fibro Scan
Fibro scan is the method which uses ultrasound waves to examine the liver. It uses transient elastography, which is one type of ultrasound wave, to process this liver scan.
Is a Fibro Scan Painful?
Fibro scan is the method without any invasive or surgery requirements. It is absolutely painless and rapid, the vibration from the ultrasound wave on the abdomen will be the only thing to feel.
Fibro Scan Conclusion
Fibro scan is one of the most convenient choices to examine the liver. The transient elastography will indicate the condition, including the damage to the liver and display it through the CAP score and Fibrosis score. This method is total without surgery or invasive requirement, so it is painless and takes only a short time to finish the process.