MRE vs Fibroscan

[Summtyme]

I had a fibroscan done last month with a 17 Kpa (cirrhosis). Bloodwork is perfect. They did the fibroscan because 6 months ago I had an ultrasound that showed a slightly enlarged spleen and some fatty infiltration in the liver. They are sending me for an MRI with elastography on Friday to confirm the staging.

Does anyone have any experience with this test? Is it more reliable than the fibroscan?

I’m not a drinker at all. Frankly I’ve been in shock over the fibroscan diagnosis. I was 20 lbs overweight but I’m already down 12 pounds.

Is the MRE reliable? Your experiences would be a big help to me.

[MINTVCX]

I think you cannot say that fibroscan is less reliable than MRI with elastography. Also you cannot be diagnosed only with fibroscan result. Like any other test fibroscan can be false positive.

Good hepatologist takes into account all tests (imaging, blood, symptoms, age, risk factor like overweight, family health status, gender etc.). So I think you have to calm down and wait for futher tests that your doctor would order. Unfortunately no simple path to diagnose liver issues sometimes. Good luck.

[nash1996]

My hepatologist says that fibroscans usually have a tendency to overestimate rather than underestimate. Lots of things can influence the accuracy of the reading, such as a high BMI, high liver enzymes, whether you fasted or not before the scan. In my case my score was a stage 3, but my liver biopsy lowered this to a stage 2. My fibroscan has since come down to a stage 2 now that my enzymes are lower. I've never been offered an MRI with elastography. I've had an a liver ultrasound, a fibroscan and a biopsy.

[ThyroidDeb in reply to nash1996]

My hepotoligist said no reason for MRI elasticity since I had biopsy. 🤷‍♀️

[nash2 Partner]

MRE is currently considered to be the best non-invasive measure for fibrosis. It is similar to FibroScan but looks at the entire liver not just a small section.

[MINTVCX in reply to nash2]

Indeed at least for NALFD:

"In a prospective, cross-sectional study of more than 100 patients, we found MRE to be more accurate than TE in identification of liver fibrosis (stage 1 or more), using biopsy analysis as the standard."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Interesting:

" MRE Plus Fibrosis-4 vs FibroScan-AST in Detecting NASH-Related Fibrosis"

practiceupdate.com/content/...

[waterstop in reply to nash2]

do mean MRI? I have not heard of a MRE. Thank you for your answers.

[nash2 Partner in reply to waterstop]

MR elastography is a specialized form of MRI than measures liver stiffness

[waterstop in reply to nash2]

So is that essentially the same thing as the Shear Wave Fibroscan which demonstrates the liver stiffness (4,9E kPa......my result ) and I believe the amount of liver fat (309 ACE dB/m........my result) which gives one the CAP score( Controlled Attenuation Parameter), which in turn, determines the S score?. If this is all wrong, please advise as I had to research this myself. Thanks so much. You can bill me for your knowledge!!!!!

[nash2 Partner in reply to waterstop]

Yes, they measure the same thing in terms of stiffness though their result ranges are different. The fat fraction with MRI is calculated with proton density fat fraction PDFF and reports as a percentage.

[waterstop in reply to nash2]

Thanks for clearing that up.

[Pita123]

I did mine last week and got the results today. My doctor thought it was a more reliable test than the ultrasound and the fibroscan. More convenient and covers more of the liver than a biopsy. It took a little over one hour since they did it with and without contrast. I am not claustrophobic but it was not very easy. Be prepared for it and you'll be fine. My doctor is using the MRI results as his guide for our treatment moving forward. My report also showed how some of the other organs are looking. Good luck and don't worry too much!

[2BHealthy2022 in reply to Pita123]

What treatment? I was told other than diet and exercise there is no treatment?

[Pita123 in reply to 2BHealthy2022]

Correct. No medical treatment. Just our way forward and frequency of future tests as I improve my diet and weight. Best wishes for tomorrow!

[Summtyme]

Thank you so much for your experience. I wish you the best in your treatment.

[Alterity]

In my opinion the MRI with Elasticity is by far better than just a fiberscan. It may take an hour or 2 to do, which was rough for me because I was one of the first people to have one at my hospital, where the Fiberscan takes minutes, That tells me the MRi with Elasticity is more through and I would love to have one again. Good luck.

[Liver007123 in reply to Alterity]

Iam having a MRI with contrast is this the same sort of thing My fibroscan was extremely high and was diagnosed with Cirrhosis secondary to NASH this was told to me in a letter 🤦🏼‍♀️🥺

[Summtyme]

Update. My MRE results came in!! The cirrhosis diagnoses was walked back!! I have a mild fatty liver. I just cannot believe it but am so grateful. Hepatolgist says the MRE is the results to believe although last month he felt the fibroscan was a solid reading of 17 kpa since the IQR was only 9%.

He feels I’m in the clear and to retest in 2 years.

[andrewax2 in reply to Summtyme]

Glad to hear that! The MRE was also very useful for me.