Liver Disease/Fibroscan

[Tim12]

Has anyone had a second opinion regarding Fibroscans

[AyrshireK]

What do you mean? Fibroscan is a useful too but only when taken along with up to date bloods and possibly other scans like ultrasound.

Fibroscan can't tell the difference between actual fibrous tissue and ongoing inflammation so if bloods are sky high at time of scan the result can give a false high reading.

Results can also be affected if you've eaten before the scan & there can be an element of user error - probe reading bone instead of liver etc.

Fibroscan alone is not a great tool to confirm or rule out liver issues - it has to be done as part of a bigger bank of tests.

My hubby has never had one - he's got cirrhosis and has been diagnosed for 10 years - his consultant won't do one as she says it will add nothing to the diagnostic picture in his case since we know fine well he has cirrhosis.

Katie

[Tim12 in reply to AyrshireK]

I have had an utrasound saying I have fatty liver but all the blood tests say no cause for liver disease found then I had a fibro scan the same day and it said cirhhosis

[AyrshireK in reply to Tim12]

It's possible to have normal bloods and still have compensated cirrhosis and I guess the ultrasound could have picked up the change in liver shape and texture (cirrhosis) but it's been read as fatty infiltration.

Did you get the score for your fibroscan? kPa score reflects how dense the liver is i.e. degree of fibrous tissue (in the absence of elevated bloods it could well be accurate). CAP score would reflect how much fatty build up there is in the liver.

It sounds like you are going to need further investigation and perhaps a liver biopsy to fully confirm what's going on - state of your liver and reason for it being so.

Katie

[Tim12 in reply to AyrshireK]

The Fibroscan was performed by a trainee and was quite painful kpa 28.1 IQR 4.5

[Tim12 in reply to AyrshireK]

Is it possible to ask for another scan

[AyrshireK in reply to Tim12]

As you've been told you have cirrhosis based on the fibroscan then you will certainly need more follow up. Ask the question about the accuracy of the scan you've had and about another fibroscan. It may be that they took a reading after hitting a rib so your kPa may be falsly high.

You obviously DO have something going on if your ultrasound picked up changes to the liver texture - whether that be fatty liver or indeed fibrous changes they will need to establish based on the various somewhat conflicting results you've had.

If they are going with a cirrhosis diagnosis then it is routine to have a scan (usually ultrasound) every 6 months just to keep an eye on changes within the liver PLUS you should be under the care of a hospital consultant.

It looks like they need to do more follow up to establish what exactly is going on and why.

Katie

[Tim12 in reply to AyrshireK]

Very helpful thankyou I am glad I came on this forum now

[Tim12 in reply to AyrshireK]

just looked up kpa chart and my score indicates stage 3 liver disease I have no symptoms just a pain under the ribs and eating well

[Nalabanana]

Hi Tim12 I've had fibroscans my first along with bloods showed f2 ,I've also had scans I went for my yearly check up and my fibroscan was f3 so they sent for a biopsy which I had in May that showed I have a fatty liver but a long way of from cirrhosis of the liver so not all fibroscans give a true reading ..

[Fandabby]

Hi Tim, I had a fibroscan 5 years ago as I was having on going right sided pain even though I'd had my gallbladder out several years before. My reading was 32 and my blood enzymes 117 I think, anyway they diagnozed me with stage 4 Cirrhosis. I was even told I had 10 years to live!. Had a biopsy 3 weeks ago as was thinking of going on a medical trial, and results showed no cirrhosis, just fatty liver. I think they are realizing the fibroscans are not all that reliable. Good luck with your diagnosis.

[Roy1955]

Might be worth asking for an ELF blood test.