Expert FibroScan Testing in Sugar Land, TX

Your liver is a vital organ, performing hundreds of essential tasks to keep your body healthy. When liver disease develops, it can often progress silently without noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Reddy Cardiac Wellness & Diabetes Reversal Center performs FibroScan® examinations in Sugar Land, TX to assess liver health. Advanced diagnostic tools like the FibroScan exam provide a non-invasive way to assess liver health, helping doctors detect and manage conditions before they become severe.

What Is a FibroScan?

A FibroScan is a specialized medical device that uses ultrasound technology, specifically Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE™), to measure the stiffness of your liver. Liver stiffness is a key indicator of fibrosis, which is the scarring of liver tissue. The scan also measures fat content in the liver, a condition known as steatosis. This quick, painless procedure provides valuable information that helps your doctor evaluate the overall health of your liver and diagnose conditions.

How Does a FibroScan Work?

The FibroScan procedure is straightforward and similar to a standard ultrasound. While you lie comfortably on an examination table, a technician applies a water-based gel to your skin on the upper right side of your abdomen. A small probe is then placed on the skin between your ribs.

This probe sends low-frequency sound waves through your liver tissue. You might feel a gentle vibration, but the process is completely painless. The device measures how fast these sound waves travel. The faster they move, the stiffer the liver tissue, indicating a higher degree of fibrosis or scarring. The entire exam typically takes only 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

What Are the Benefits of FibroScan®?

The FibroScan exam offers numerous advantages for both patients and healthcare providers. It is a modern, effective alternative to a traditional liver biopsy, which is an invasive surgical procedure. The key benefits include:

• Non-Invasive and Safe: No needles, incisions, or sedation are required.
• Painless and Quick: The procedure is comfortable and can be completed during a regular office visit in just a few minutes.
• Immediate Results: The FibroScan results are generated instantly, allowing your doctor to review them with you during the same appointment.
• Comprehensive Assessment: The scan evaluates a much larger volume of liver tissue (about 100 times more) than a biopsy, providing a more representative and accurate assessment of overall liver health.
• Convenient Monitoring: Its safety and convenience make it an ideal tool for regularly monitoring the progression or improvement of liver disease over time.

When Is a FibroScan Recommended?

Your doctor may recommend a FibroScan liver exam if you have or are at risk for certain liver conditions. These include:

• Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) or Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
• Alcoholic Liver Disease
• Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C
• Cirrhosis
• Metabolic conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol
• Unexplained results from other liver tests

How to Interpret FibroScan Results

The FibroScan interpretation involves two key measurements of the CAP score for liver fat and the fibrosis score for liver stiffness.

The Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) score measures the amount of fat in your liver. It is reported in decibels per meter (dB/m) and ranges from 100 to 400 dB/m. A higher CAP score indicates a greater degree of fatty change. The normal range of CAP in a FibroScan is typically below 238 dB/m, though this can vary slightly.

The Fibrosis grade measures liver stiffness in kilopascals (kPa). The result corresponds to a fibrosis stage, ranging from F0 to F4. The range of Fibrosis grades is as follows:

• F0-F1: Indicates minimal or no liver scarring.
• F2: Suggests moderate scarring.
• F3: Represents severe scarring.
• F4: Indicates advanced scarring, known as cirrhosis.

The FibroScan of the liver normal range for stiffness is generally between 2 and 7 kPa. Your healthcare provider will analyze these scores alongside your medical history and other test results to provide a complete diagnosis.

Can a FibroScan Detect Liver Cancer?

While it can identify advanced scarring (cirrhosis), a major risk factor for liver cancer, a Fibroscan is not designed to detect cancerous tumors directly. Other imaging tests, like an MRI or CT scan, would be used for that purpose. Our medical team will assess your medical needs to determine which test is best for you.

How Long Do I Wait for Results?

One of the most significant advantages of a FibroScan exam is the speed at which you receive your results. The data is available immediately after the scan is completed. We can discuss the findings with you in less than 10 minutes, allowing you to quickly understand your liver’s condition and begin planning the next steps in your care.

Schedule Your FibroScan in Sugar Land, TX Today

Reddy Cardiac Wellness & Diabetes Reversal Center is committed to the health of our patients and managing it effectively. We proudly use advanced diagnostic techniques to monitor and improve the health of our patients. The FibroScan test is a painless, fast, and reliable way to assess your liver health and guide your treatment plan. If you are concerned about your liver health or have been diagnosed with a condition that affects the liver, contact us today to learn more or to schedule your appointment.