A non-invasive, pain-free and quick scan to detect liver fibrosis.

A new non-invasive and painless technique for measuring the liver fibrosis is being offered in GI and Liver Center at Phyathai 2 Hospital. It is referred as Fibroscan which allows the physician to pinpoint the problem earlier and avoid serious liver problems such as cirrhosis and cancer, the most common cause of death.

Any fibrosis or fatty deposits within the liver would be revealed through a new test called Fibroscan. Like ultrasound, it is a non-invasive, quick and easy test.

A shear wave is sent into the liver to evaluate the liver stiffness. The data is then automatically processed by the computer and the liver stiffness is displayed on the screen. A healthy liver should be soft and elastic. The stiffer the liver tissue, the higher possibility of fibrosis and of course this means that damage of the liver has occurred.

Until recently, a liver biopsy is universally performed to look for liver fibrosis. A needle will be put into the liver to remove a small piece of the liver for evaluation so it is painful and often carries the risk of internal bleeding; patients need to stay in hospital for several days after the procedure. On the other hand, Fibroscan technology only lasts for 10-20 minutes. The patient can immediately go back to home or work due to no pain, no cutting and no anesthesia in this procedure.