What is Liver Elastography? | A Simple Guide to Your Test

Liver elastography is a modern, non-invasive procedure that assesses the liver’s stiffness or hardness. It’s similar to an elastography ultrasound that assesses the liver scarring, also called fibrosis, by means of a doctor’s examination.

The conditions responsible for the occurrence of liver fibrosis include hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and alcohol abuse.  Proper treatment is only possible if the scarring is detected at an early stage. This easy-to-understand guide presents all the details related to your forthcoming liver elastography test.

Why is a Liver Elastography Test Needed?

Traditionally, doctors would occasionally resort to the invasive procedure of liver biopsy (extraction of tissue sample through a needle) to diagnose liver disease. Today, liver elastography has become a highly accepted, secure, and non-invasive method and has taken the place of biopsy as a painless alternative.

This test might be suggested by your doctor:

• To detect or measure liver scarring (fibrosis).
• To monitor the progression or improvement of a known liver disease.
• To help guide treatment decisions for your liver condition.
• As a non-invasive alternative to a liver biopsy.

How to Prepare for Your Elastography Ultrasound

The elastography test won’t require much preparation on your part. In case your doctor gives you particular guidance, the following steps are usually part of the instructions:

• Fasting: You probably have to fast (nothing but water) for 4 to 6 hours before the test. This is done because food can artificially alter the liver stiffness and thus lead to incorrect results.
• Clothing: Dressing in easy, loose-fitting apparel is advisable. There is a possibility that you will be required to put on a gown.

What Happens During Liver Elastography?

The procedure itself is quick, painless, and straightforward. Here is what you can expect, step-by-step:

1. You get comfortable: Initially, you will be positioned on an examination table, generally on your back with your right arm raised above your head. This opens up the space between your ribs.
2. Warm gel is applied: Then a technician will smear a transparent, water-soluble gel on the skin above your liver (right side of the abdomen). The gel helps the sound waves travel.
3. The scan begins: The technician will carefully lay a specific ultrasound probe (transducer) on your skin. This device sends painless, low-frequency sound waves into your liver.
4. Stiffness is measured: The test, often a type of shear wave elastography, measures the speed at which these waves pass through the liver tissue. They penetrate faster through the hard (fibrotic) tissue and slower through the soft, healthy one.
5. All done: The complete process is done in 5-15 minutes only. You will not experience anything apart from the gentle pressure of the probe on your skin.

Benefits of Liver Elastography Test

One of the best things about liver elastography is its excellent safety profile.

• Non-invasive: No needles, cuts, or sedation are required.
• Painless: Most patients feel no discomfort at all.
• Fast: The test is quick, and you can return to your normal activities immediately.
• Reliable: It’s a highly accurate tool for assessing liver stiffness.

Understanding Your Liver Elastography Results

The radiologist will be the one interpreting your results and after that your doctor will receive the report. The report includes the stiffness measurement of your liver most probably expressed in kilopascals (kPa).

• A low kPa score generally indicates a soft, healthy liver with no or minimal scarring.
• A high kPa score suggests increased stiffness, which indicates the presence of significant fibrosis or cirrhosis.

Your doctor will talk about your particular score with you and its significance in relation to your overall health and other tests.

Your Liver Health Matters: Trust Semwal Diagnostics

Understanding the health of your liver is a vital step in managing your overall well-being. A liver elastography provides crucial, sight-saving information to your doctor, quickly and painlessly.

Your well-being is our goal at Semwal Diagnostics and we will provide you accurate and trustworthy diagnostic services. Our clinic is equipped with modern shear wave elastography technology, and our expert technicians and radiologists ensure your test is performed with the utmost care and precision. Trust us for a clear picture of your liver health.