New Method for Liver Disease Diagnosis

In order to diagnose whether a patient suffers from liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, an invasive biopsy, with less than reliable results, is conducted.  This usually consists of an evaluation, blood work, ultrasound, and the actual biopsy.  There is new technology out of France, however, that may change all of that.  The FibroScan allows physicians to evaluate the level of fibrotic tissue without invasive procedures.

This liver fibrosis is when extra proteins or collagen is deposited in the tissue and liver, resulting in hypertension, liver cancer, or even liver failure.  This fibrosis does not always result in recognizable symptoms until the disease has advances itself into cirrhosis.  This delays a proper diagnosis and treatment for the patient.  Further complicating the problem is that even when a biopsy is conducted in a timely manner, the needle needs to be positioned right where the infected tissue is in order to obtain an accurate result.

The revolutionary technology used in the FibroScan, however, only requires that the patient lie down while the probe, similar to an ultrasound, emits waves into ten different areas in and around the liver.  The waves can then indicate whether liver fibrosis is present.  The scan allows for a pain-free diagnostic method with great accuracy.  It is recommended that patients use this screen annually for early detection of liver fibrosis.  An early diagnosis can help a patient get the treatment he/she needs and the medical work that is needed to pursue any social security disability claims.