Fibroscan vs CT scan

[Winnie73]

Hi,

Just wanted some input from anyone who could advise/share their experience. I've had an ultrasound and more recently a CT scan. (Both came back normal) I'm still concerned about long-term ongoing symptoms of itching skin and some discomfort in the liver area. I've read of people having normal bloods and scans and still having liver damage. Because of this I'm considering paying for a fibroscan, but don't want to waste my money if it isn't completely reliable. Thanks in advance.

W x

[AyrshireK]

I would have thought a CT scan would have revealed any changes within the shape and texture of the liver - it's 2nd only to an MRI scan in quality of imaging. Certainly my hubbies cirrhosis was identified on ultrasound scan and CT scan during transplant assessment picked up on other changes which hadn't been seen on ultrasounds. A fibroscan will show how fibrous the liver is but I still would have thought the CT would have been better than a fibroscan.

Itching in liver conditions is usually due to increased levels of bilirubin, if your bilirubin is normal it's highly unlikely that your liver is the cause.

I personally wouldn't think a fibroscan will add much diagnostically to what is going on but that is just my opinion.

Katie

[Winnie73 in reply to AyrshireK]

Wow!

Thanks for an extremely informed reply Katie. You've already helped me feel reassured. My billirubin levels have been fine. The blood tests have shown nothing abnormal at all. I didn't know it was the bilirubin that caused the itching so that piece of information is really helpful to me. I guess I was just thinking of getting the scan as the final thing to rule out a problem but I really appreciate your feedback. Thank you.

W

[Stupidliver in reply to Winnie73]

That is correct. If your bilirubin is normal then the itching is not due to the liver

[Winnie73 in reply to Stupidliver]

Thanks . My bilirubin has been meaured as 6 and 8 (range 0-21 mol/l) so not raised at all.

[briccolone in reply to Winnie73]

Interesting about itching- my bilirubin levels have always been normal but have fatty liver and itching on the legs

[jeffnet1967 in reply to AyrshireK]

any ct or mri does not measure fibrosis. depending on the tasting there could be 4 or 6 catagories of fibrosis. it took the test with 4 and the result was0.78. which is severe fibrosis and at stage 4.i could not get a liver biopsy due to bleeding.

[VeeWat in reply to AyrshireK]

Did your husbands US and CT say specifically Cirrhosis on those scans?

[AyrshireK in reply to VeeWat]

Never saw his CT reports as they were part of t/p assessment but yes all ultrasounds say things like 'coarse dense echo texture in keeping with cirrhosis'.

[Stupidliver]

Fibroscan is not very reliable in mild scarring but is more accurate with significant scarring.

[Winnie73 in reply to Stupidliver]

Right. Thanks for reply. Seems like mibbe not worth spending the money then.

[Faithfull]

Make sure u don't end up like me still no results I'm going loop the oop

[Winnie73 in reply to Faithfull]

That's precisely where I am faithfull. Lots of blood tests, an ultrasound and a CT scan. Had a very thorough check over but doctors can find nothing other than low vitamin B12 and D. Not knowing why I feel itchy and have discomfort in my abdomen is driving me insane. More recently I'm noticing bruises all over my legs. Sometimes nauseous too. Need to know why I'm not feeling right.

[Stupidliver in reply to Winnie73]

Hmmm that’s strange. I wonder how your platelet count is. Low platelet can cause bleeding which can manifest itself as a bruise.

[Winnie73 in reply to Stupidliver]

Yeah. Would like some more blood tests to see what's going on. I need to go in for a B12 jab so I will speak to the nurse about it.

[Faithfull in reply to Winnie73]

My ultra sound yr ago said early cirrhosis in another hospital the fibro scan two weeks and disharged me previous so she is a .... Well on her head I'm taking legal they messed me hip up left it to long