Liver Scan

A liver scan gives you much more than a picture of your liver: The innovative FibroScan® system from Echosens measures your liver’s fat content and hardness. HealthScansBCS chose FibroScan for their patients because it shows early signs of damage from diseases like alcoholism, hepatitis C, and fatty liver disease. Liver scans are noninvasive and comfortable, so don’t wait to start protecting your liver. 

What is a liver scan?

A liver scan is a noninvasive test that uses advanced technology to measure the liver’s stiffness and fat percentage. These two things are solid indicators of liver disease.

Because liver disease doesn’t usually cause symptoms until it’s severe, having liver scans is an excellent way to find problems and treat them early.

How can a liver scan check my liver health? 

The tip of the FibroScan probe delivers a mechanical shear wave that travels through your skin into your liver. Ultrasound waves measure how fast the shear wave moves. This number indicates your liver’s stiffness.

At the same time, FibroScan measures your liver’s fat content. The more fat in the liver, the more ultrasound waves you absorb. The fewer waves that bounce back to the probe, the higher the liver’s fat content. 

What can I expect during my liver scan?

Before your liver scan starts, you lie on your back and raise your right arm above your head. Your shirt is pulled up just enough to expose your ribcage.

They press the FibroScan probe lightly into your side to start the scan. You may feel a tapping sensation during the test, but it shouldn’t be painful. 

After your scan, your provider wipes the gel off your skin, and that’s it. You can get back to your regular activities right away.

How does a liver scan compare to a liver biopsy?

Liver biopsies are taking a small sample of liver tissue, usually with a needle, and examining it under a microscope. Biopsies are, by nature, invasive, and they’re often painful. They can also provide too little information.

Liver sampling is complex, and sampling errors are common.  Even if doctors obtain the correct tissue, liver biopsies run at least a 20% chance of taking too little tissue and providing an incorrect result.

In sharp contrast, FibroScan evaluates your liver without anesthesia, incisions, or needles. The procedure is completely external. It’s highly accurate, partly because FibroScan measures up to 100 times more tissue than a liver biopsy. This provides a more detailed result. 

Schedule your liver scan now at the Bryan area’s only FibroScan office by calling HealthScansBCS or booking your appointment online.