FibroScan: assessing cirrhosis and advanced fibrosis with vibration-controlled transient elastography

There are many causes of liver disease that can lead to progressive fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver; chronic liver disease is the third most common cause of death for people under 65 in the UK. Advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis can be asymptomatic, making diagnosis difficult without the aid of the ‘gold standard’ biopsy to assess liver architecture. However, there are many disadvantages associated with this invasive procedure, and so researchers, over the past 15 years, have developed and patented a noninvasive device for measuring liver stiffness and scarring called a FibroScan. This device uses vibration-controlled transient elastography to send sound waves through the liver, from which a reading is taken. A higher reading correlates with an increased likelihood of fibrosis and cirrhosis. This technology is efficient, easy to use and provides immediate results. It allows clinicians to estimate the degree of liver damage, aiding management, treatment and prognosis. It is also an effective monitoring tool that allows liver health to be checked at allotted periods.

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