Mri Scan

[Snack7]

Can Mri Scan detect liver fibrosis was supposed to been having Fibro scan but have got Mri instead

[AyrshireK]

Almost certainly an MRI should pick up the presence or not of fibrosis - it is the best visualising scan of them all probably even better and more accurate than fibroscan.

Found this about the various scans and tests for fibrosis and fatty liver.

How are Fatty Liver Disease and Liver Fibrosis diagnosed and evaluated?

Your doctor will begin by asking you about your medical history and symptoms. You will also undergo a physical exam.

In order to diagnose FLD and liver fibrosis, your doctor may order blood tests to evaluate liver function, including tests to assess the level of the liver enzymes ALT and AST, which can be high when the liver is fatty.

Your doctor may also order imaging tests of the liver such as:

Abdominal Ultrasound, which uses sound waves to produce pictures to evaluate the size and shape of the liver, as well as blood flow through the liver. On ultrasound images, steatotic livers look brighter than normal livers, and cirrhotic livers (advanced fibrosis) look lumpy and shrunken.

Computed Tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis that combines special x-ray equipment with sophisticated computers to produce multiple images or pictures of the inside of the body. On CT, steatotic livers look darker than normal livers. Cirrhotic livers look lumpy and shrunken.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed pictures of the liver. MRI is the most sensitive imaging test for steatosis, highly accurate even in mild steatosis. When a special technique is used, MRI can calculate the percentage of fat in the liver. More than 5-6% of fat in the liver is considered abnormal.

Ultrasound elastography is a special ultrasound technique to test for liver fibrosis. The movement of the liver caused by ultrasound wave is measured in the middle of the liver, and its stiffness (or elasticity) is calculated. Fibrotic livers are stiffer and moves to a greater degree compared to normal livers.

MR elastography (MRE) is a special MRI technique to test for liver fibrosis. The movement of fine vibration waves in the liver is imaged to create a visual map, or elastogram, that shows the stiffness (or elasticity) across the liver. Both ultrasound and MR elastography can detect increased stiffness of the liver caused by liver fibrosis earlier than other imaging tests and may eliminate the need for an invasive liver biopsy.

Liver biopsy is an image-guided procedure that removes a small sample of liver tissue using a needle. The sample is then examined under a microscope for signs of steatosis, inflammation and damage, and fibrosis.

Hopefully you have an appointment for follow up discussions soon so you can find out what has been found.

Katie

[velvetunderground]

If the sole aim of of test is to quantify the level of fibrosis, then I believe a Fibroscan will be much more effective than a regular MRI scan. I have had both, and my MRI showed no significant abnormalities, my Fibroscans (I've had loads!) all show various degrees of fibrosis. A regular MRI will give you a picture of the liver, the fibroscan will tell you how 'stiff' it is. If you do 'see' any evidence of fibrosis on an MRI, the level will be subjective. This also nods to another key difference, a fibroscan will provide an 'instant' result, the MRI will need to be interpreted at a later date, so results are likely to take weeks to arrive.

Having said this, the MRI will provide you with a lot of other detail you certainly won't get from a fibroscan - you will see any structural issues, enlarged organs etc.

All this refers to a 'regular' MRI scan, I've no experience of the 'MRE' scan referenced in Katie's reply, it sounds like that may well give you a quantified fibrosis measure.

There may of course, be a very good reason for for doctor/consultant suggesting an MRI over a fibroscan.

all the best

Paul

[Hidden]

MR elastography (MRE) is a special MRI technique to test for liver fibrosis. The movement of fine vibration waves in the liver is imaged to create a visual map, or elastogram, that shows the stiffness (or elasticity) across the liver.

It may be a good idea to check what kind of MRI you have ordered, like another member says, there may be specific clinical reasons why your consultant is sending you for an MRI.

Best wishes.