Dr Google

Is it the only was to test accurately for liver disease is having a liver biopsy, according to Google ultrasound is only 30 odd % CT scan 60 odd % should I just ignore Dr Google

[Aotea2012]

Biopsy is the gold standard, but is invasive and is less well used. Fibroscan is the next most frequently used and provides a very good diagnostic tool for liver disease. CT and ultrasound is widely employed and in most cases is the main diagnostic tool in ascertaining how advanced liver disease has become. This is in combination with clinical judgement/experience and blood tests. I had bloods, CT and ultrasound to support my diagnosis of cirrhosis.

[Hidden in reply to Aotea2012]

Thanks for the reply

[Hidden in reply to Aotea2012]

I had a CT scan a year ago that said my liver was fine a month later I had an ultrasound that said fatty liver and bloods have been normal except GGT which was high and I've just had another ultrasound and full blood count and lft done again last week, the sonographer said mild fatty liver but I haven't had the official results and bloods back yet, but I'm always in pain in my liver area and can hardly walk because of muscle weakness and pain also developed osteoporosis I'm sure I have cirrhosis.

[Iro1 in reply to Aotea2012]

Ignore Dr Google, when I went mad with anxiety over my liver I thought I read that cherry angionas were indicative of cirrhosis.It turns out that 70% of the population of my age have them!

The BLT nurses and your treatment team will tell you.

When I was diagnosed with a melanoma, fortunately another sniper's budget dodged, I went from the Consultant direct to the MacMillan Nurse who gave me direct information, both good and bad as well as a booklet and details of a support group.

If Liver departments integrated BLT into their set up in the same way this would reduce a lot of the pronlems.

It is not so much bad news as uncertainty

[Hidden in reply to Iro1]

Thanks for the reply

[Roy1955]

Only foolproof accurate way is autopsy!

Remove your liver, cut it into thin slivers and examine the whole lot.

But for that you have to be dead!

Your tests are accurate, you don't have liver disease.

Stop looking for reasons to disbelieve your Dr.

[Dogbot]

DO NOT USE GOOGLE, Sorry to be so bossy but anyone using google can read just about anything they want to in it and it doesn’t have your medical records and every single person is different 🙏.

Stay safe All

Dogbot 🐶🌈Dave

[Frananncru]

ignore Dr Google !

[Readlots]

Definitely do notGoogle. You do NOT want a biopsy - they are not nice and mostly not necessary. The BLT has a section on anxiety. Whenever you are tempted to Google read that instead - britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

[Hidden]

Thanks for the reply

[PadoJoe]

Ignore Doctor google 100%. A biopsy pulls a small piece of liver meat from the center of the liver. Female average liver in over two inches thick a male has a larger liver. A biopsy pulls a piece in diameter smaller than a #2 pencil eraser with thickness about 1/8 the size of the #2 pencil eraser. Liver disease starts on the outside of the liver even when they say fatty liver disease, this is on the outside. The center of the liver is the last part to get disease. Blood test and if required a Fibroscan. The doctor can thump below the right ribs and tell by the sound they hear how the liver is and if it is enlarged. There is no Gold Standard test. They don't even assign a stage to the liver disease until the entire outside of the liver is all diseased and at least 1/4 inch of the inside is all disease. And the liver starts healing itself as soon as it sees the disease which slows the disease progression. Liver disease if it penetrates the liver does so in equal layers, just like it first encompasses the entire outside of the liver when penetrating the liver will do an even layer underneath the first thin layer of the liver and on and on with layers but takes years to do because the liver will continually heal itself to some degree.

[normanbyrott]

I read the OP on this a while ago and thought that a biopsy was needed to confirm fatty liver.Recently a friend who is an obese diabetic told me he also now has NAFLD. He is also no stranger to a few pints. WhenI asked how he was diagnosed he said the blood tests, I assumed this meant the standard bloods, or are there specific tests for liver disease.