FIBROSCAN
What is FibroScan ?
FibroScan, in short, is a liver damage detection device and is considered as a painless biopsy counterpart and is thus used in the early diagnosis of cirrhosis disease.
FibroScan is a diagnostic method that can measure the amount of damage (hardening) and fat loss in the liver with numerical values. The inflammation that occurs in the liver then turns into scar tissue (scar=fibrosis). Hardening of the liver is most often associated with this fibrosis (scar tissue) at work. Cirrhosis of the liver is also essentially a result of widespread fibrosis in the liver. The accumulation of fat in the liver is called Hepatosteatosis (fatty liver).
FibroScan is similar to ultrasonography, but instead of high-frequency sound waves in ultrasonography, fibroscan uses a short, pulsed, low-frequency sound wave to reveal the degree of stiffness of the liver. Therefore, at the end of this method, not a picture is obtained, but some numerical values. Thus, the doctor looks at these numbers and comments on the damage status of the liver. Since a larger area is scanned almost 100 times with FibroScan compared to a liver biopsy, very accurate results about the liver are obtained.
What are the benefits of FibroScan?
• Since methods such as blood tests and ultrasonography may be insufficient in the follow-up of chronic liver patients (Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C, Wilson's Disease, etc.), a liver biopsy is requested from time to time. Biopsy has side effects such as bleeding, pain, back from labor. Thanks to this device, your doctor will have extensive information about the liver without performing a biopsy, and thus will be able to quickly diagnose bleeding, pain, time loss and eliminate it.
• Almost 1 out of 2 people in Turkey has fatty liver. Fatty liver disease gives almost no signs and can quietly progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Early diagnosis of cirrhosis can be made with FibroScan.
• It is a painless, fast and practical method
• There is no need for any needles or anesthesia for the procedure.
• It can be applied safely to pregnant women.
* Those with pacemakers can be processed easily.
• You can return to work immediately after the procedure.
Are there any risks to the procedure?
FibroScan does not have any side effects. After the procedure is completed, you can drive safely and perform your normal daily activities.
Are there any limitations?
The accuracy of your FibroScan results may decrease in the following cases:
* Pregnancy
* Obesity
* Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (ascites)
* Liver inflammation or high alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level
* Bile blockages
* Pacemaker (please inform your health professional)
What happens during the scan?
Your procedure will be performed by your doctor. For the procedure, you will be asked to lie on your back, put your right hand under your head and your right leg over your left leg. This will make it easier to reach the liver between the ribs. After applying some gel, the probe of the device is touched to the skin and the procedure is started. The gel allows the pulsed sound waves to reach the liver.
Do I need to prepare for the scan?
You must not have eaten or drunk anything for 3 hours before the procedure. If you are taking any prescription medications, you can take them with a few sips of water. There is no harm in that.
Do I need to give approval?
You do not need to sign anything. If you decide not to proceed, please let us know.
How and when will I get my results?
•As soon as the procedure is completed, your doctor will interpret the results and give you the procedure report immediately.
•The procedure takes a maximum of 15 minutes, but please wait in the salon for 30-40 minutes for your appointment.
