How Is the FibroScan® Test Used and How Is It Performed?
7/6/2023
In the past, the best way to uncover your liver health was through a biopsy. As a result of recent progression in tech, providers can begin to test the state of your liver thanks to a relatively simple, nonsurgical ultrasound procedure, FibroScan. At GastroArkansas, our team offers this quick and effective examination to assess your liver health and help you safeguard your overall health. To get more information about FibroScan testing and how it can help measure your liver health, get in touch with one of our Little Rock, AR locations.
What is the FibroScan test?
The FibroScan test is a liver elastography procedure that relies on ultrasound technology to determine damage to the liver. This simple test can discover liver scarring and stiffness of the liver. Liver scarring, known as liver fibrosis, begins as a result of excessive alcohol consumption, a high-fat diet, being excessively overweight, type 2 diabetes, and other factors. Liver scarring is known to lead to cirrhosis or, simply put, excessive damage and scarring of the liver. The late stages of cirrhosis may result in tiredness, unintended weight loss, yellowing of the skin and eyes (known as jaundice), cancer of the liver, and liver failure.
While a liver biopsy requires sedation, a surgical procedure, and hours of your attention, FibroScan can often be finished in ten minutes. FibroScan causes virtually no discomfort, and you will be able to resume your everyday schedule after your exam.
Why is FibroScan important?
Due to the complications affiliated with damage to the liver, it is very important that you take liver health seriously. That is where FibroScan is able to help. After completing a FibroScan, our Little Rock, AR GI specialists can look over and use the findings to detect and manage liver issues, like:
- Hepatitis B or C
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
- Alcohol-related liver diseases
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Along with that, we can also evaluate how far your liver damage has progressed. Keeping track of this allows us to construct a plan of treatment specifically to meet your needs.
How long can it take before I get my FibroScan results?
A secondary bonus of FibroScan is your results are often available within a day or two. If you have a liver biopsy, it might take around two weeks, however, to get those results. As a result of the FibroScan, you’ll have your exam results sooner than with alternative testing, which allows you to start your treatment as soon as possible.
Once your results are ready, our team of GI providers will call you or meet with you to discuss the FibroScan results. We will help you make sense of your exam results so you can understand what the findings mean for your liver and overall health.
Is it possible to make changes to address negative FibroScan results?
If your results imply damage to your liver, there are various things you can do to either reverse the damage or prevent new damage from developing. A few steps you may want to take to improve the health of your liver could include:
- Work with your doctor to swap medications as necessary
- Reduce alcohol consumption
- Exercise daily
- Begin eating a diet that is high in fiber and low in fat
- Lose weight if you are overweight
Request a FibroScan in Little Rock, AR
An effective way to defend against medical issues is to take control of your overall health. With easy, relatively painless tests such as the FibroScan, you can quickly get to know your liver health and make needed changes prior to additional damage occurring. At GastroArkansas, our providers happily utilize this cutting-edge liver biopsy alternative. Reach out to a Little Rock, AR location in your area to get more information.