The accuracy of FibroScan® for staging liver fibrosis (scarring) and steatosis (fatty infiltration) has now been demonstrated in nearly all liver disorders, including fatty liver, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, alcoholic liver disease, hemochromatosis, cystic fibrosis, autoimmune liver diseases, drug-related fibrosis (e.g., due to methotrexate), and others.​​ The most common reason for patients to visit Liver Scan Direct is fatty liver.

A liver ultrasound uses sound waves to produce a visual image of the liver, like a blurry photograph. Similarly, CT and MRI produce images of the liver, albeit based on different technologies. None of these procedures provide information about the severity of liver scarring except in very extreme circumstances (i.e., advanced cirrhosis). Unlike the imaging procedures described above, the FibroScan® does not take an image of the liver, and therefore, cannot identify findings such as liver cancer, gallstones, or bile duct problems. However, unlike these procedures, FibroScan® measures liver stiffness and is much more sensitive for identifying scarring (i.e., fibrosis). In other words, the greater sensitivity of the FibroScan® allows one to identify liver scarring at an earlier stage than these imaging procedures, and therefore, start appropriate treatment before the disease is too advanced. With respect to fatty liver, the FibroScan® is also more sensitive than the other procedures described above and has the advantage of being able to quantify or grade the severity of fatty infiltration.

The FibroScan® is typically performed as an alternative to liver biopsy, which is an invasive procedure where a needle is passed through the skin to take a small piece of the liver for microscopic examination. Due to its invasiveness, biopsy may cause complications, including pain (seen in 1 in 5 patients), bleeding (1 in 1,000 patients), and death (1 in 10,000 patients). On the contrary, the FibroScan® is entirely non-invasive and has no complications. Biopsy also requires a patient to miss a day of work whereas a FibroScan® appointment takes only 15 minutes. Lastly, biopsies sample only 1/50,000th of the liver, whereas FibroScan® samples 1/500th of the liver (a 100-fold difference). Therefore, the FibroScan® may give more accurately assess liver health. Liver imaging tests such as ultrasound, CT, and MRI provide images of the liver but do not accurately assess the stage of liver damage except in very severe cases when it's generally too late to intervene.

The exam may not be possible in patients with ascites (fluid in the abdomen), and in other patients, liver stiffness may be falsely elevated due to liver problems other than scarring (e.g., severe inflammation, congestion due to heart failure, or bile duct obstruction). Previously, FibroScan® was not permitted in pregnant women or people with implanted cardiac devices (e.g., pacemakers), but the procedure is now permitted in these situations.

Yes, FibroScan® is useful in children. While a specially designed probe (the S2 probe) may be needed, most children can be scanned using a standard, adult (M) probe. If you would like your child to have a FibroScan®, please contact us at info@liverscan.ca or by calling 416-268-0150. If we cannot scan your child, we will not charge you for your FibroScan®.