Fibroscan
A Fibroscan is a medical test that trained professionals use to find out the amount of stiffness in your liver (which may be a sign of liver damage) and fat that you may have in your liver. We know that livers can become damaged over time, and may not show any signs until there is a large amount of damage. The scan itself is very similar to an ultrasound scan.
You may have been offered the opportunity to come for a scan by having a letter through the post, or your GP/doctor may have asked for you to have the scan done.
What happens during the FibroScan?
You will be asked to attend one of our clinics, asked a few questions about your lifestyle and have your weight and height measured.
You will be asked to lie flat on the examination couch and then place your right hand behind your head. The nurse will then feel for a suitable area on your ribcage in order to locate your liver.
Once the best site has been determined a small amount of gel will be applied to the skin and the probe placed gently against your right side.
You will then feel a small ‘flick’. These are the measurements being taken. There will need to be a minimum of ten valid measurements taken at this spot.
This will not be painful and the whole scan should only take approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
We may offer you to take part in research related to fibroscans, and your nurse/technician will explain what this will involve. You do not need to take part if you do not want to.
What preparation is needed for a FibroScan?
We will ask you not to eat food for four hours prior to the scan. Also, no liquids for two hours before the scan. You may still take your usual medications on the day of the scan. It is advisable to wear clothing that can be lifted up in order to allow access to the right side of your ribcage i.e. a shirt or blouse.
ideally you should not drink alcohol for 24 hours beforehand, as this may affect your scan. But if you must drink alcohol, please let us know so we can account for this in the test.
What happens after the test is done?
Depending on how you were referred, your clinician will either give you the results of the test after finishing or refer you back to your doctor.
If we give you your result on the day, we will explain what this means and how this relates to your health. If needed, our clinicians will give you some lifestyle advice, about keeping your liver healthy. We can also offer to refer you or signpost you to local services that will help with any lifestyle changes we recommend.
Do I need any follow up?
Depending on the results of your scan, we will either offer you an appointment with one of our liver doctors, or offer you another Fibroscan appointment in 3 years time, to see if your liver has gotten better or worse.
Where do I go?
Please pay close attention to your letter, as we are offering Fibroscans in a variety of different areas across the East Midlands. If you are unsure, please call us and we can help further.
If you need to contact us:
If you need to speak to us, whether to ask any questions or to cancel your appointment, please contact us on 0115 924 9924 and the extension 89420