Diagnosing Liver Health - Fibroscan :

Fibroscan is  a pain free,risk free and convenient way for diagnosing Liver fibrosis. A fibroscan can monitor the progression of an individual's liver disease and gives an accurate quantitative measure of success of treatment. It can also suggest life style modifications required for maintaining a healthy liver and ensure stopping further damage to already damaged liver.

Diagnosing Liver Health - Fibroscan :

Fibroscan is the latest technology for assessment of liver stiffness. Liver tissues are spongy naturally but in a diseased liver the spongy tissues undergoes fibrosis. A fibroscan is an instant ,non-invasive and painless diagnostic test for knowing liver health. The newer and latest versions of A Fibroscan machine can also measure Liver fat.

Advantages of Fibroscan Over normal ultrasound scan:

A normal ultrasound of liver can detect only tumors of liver ,Cysts, abscesses , structural lesions of liver and gallstones. Whereas a fibroscan can detect significant liver fibrosis even in early stage. It can also estimate liver fat accurately ,even in early stage.

Who can benefit from Fibroscan :

A fibroscan can diagnose liver health accurately for everyone but those who stand a high risk of liver tissue degeneration can benefit tremendously from a fibroscan.

• People known to have chronic liver disease.
• Frequent Alcohol consumers.
• Obese or overweight people ( When body mass index is more than 23.5)
• Abnormal liver function test.
• Enlarged liver.
• Diagnosed with fatty liver.
• Diagnosed with hepatitis-B or Hepatitis-C infection.
• Diabetics.
• Family history of liver disease.
• A possible Liver Donor.

Duration of Fibroscan:

No Hospitalization is required for fibroscan. It takes approx. 10 minutes and reports are printed immediately. A person can go to home immediately after a fibroscan as it is pain free and done without sedation.

How Fibroscan is done:

A person undergoing fibroscan lie on his/her back with right arm raised behind the head. The Technician operating Fibroscan applies a waterbased gel to skin of the person undergoing fibroscan. A fibroscan probe is placed with a little pressure at the abdomen of the person. The fibroscan probe sends a sheer wave into liver and the on board computer registers the data and values. Ten such readings are noted by placing the probe at different places and the average gives the result.

Who should be advised to not undergo a Fibroscan:

A Fibroscan is a generally safe diagnostic tool for diagnosing liver health but

• Anyone who has implantable device such as a pacemaker or defibrillator.
• Pregnant Females.
• People with abdominal ascities.

Dr Pawan Rawal MBBS , MD, DM Gastroenterology  is Unit Head -Department of Gastroenterology , digestive and liver diseases at Artemis Hospital ,Gurgaon.