Liver fibroscan in Turkey, Prices of Istanbul Clinics

What is Fibroscan?

Fibroscan is a cutting-edge medical technology used to assess liver health without the need for a biopsy. This test is based on a method called liver elastometry, a type of ultrasound that measures the stiffness of liver tissue.
The stiffer the liver, the more it may indicate the presence of fibrosis, fatty liver (steatosis),or NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis).

This painless test takes only a few minutes and is performed using a probe placed on the skin over the liver. The device sends gentle vibrations through the liver tissue, and the speed at which they return allows doctors to evaluate liver elasticity with reliability comparable to a biopsy in many cases, without any invasive procedure.

In Turkey, especially in specialized clinics in Istanbul, Fibroscan has become a standard examination for the early diagnosis and monitoring of liver diseases. It can be repeated regularly to track the progression of hepatitis, fibrosis, or fatty liver. While generally safe and non-invasive, like any medical procedure, it has limitations and may not be suitable for all patients (e.g., those with ascites, severe obesity, or pacemakers).

Why would you do a fibroscan?

The Fibroscan machine was initially used in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Nowadays, specialists have been using it for the diagnosis of several chronic liver diseases, including:

• Alcoholic liver disease
• HIV-HCV coinfection
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Chronic hepatitis, such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
• Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

The Fibroscan test in Turkey can also track other chronic metabolic pathologies, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, which can sometimes be accompanied by fatty liver disease.

Moreover, Fibroscan quickly assesses liver health. It is useful in many clinical contexts such as the diagnosis of liver disorders, the monitoring of diseases, the prevention of certain liver complications, and the estimation of disease prognosis.

Fibroscan measures liver stiffness and fat content, providing complementary information to blood tests that determine liver function, such as prothrombin and platelet levels, liver enzymes, and so on.

How does the procedure work?

Fibroscan is a quick, non-invasive, and completely painless procedure, very similar to a standard ultrasound. It uses a technology called controlled vibration transient elastography, which measures liver stiffness based on the speed of a shear wave traveling through the liver.

During the exam, the patient lies on their back with the right arm positioned behind the head to expose the area to be examined. The doctor then places an ultrasound probe between the ribs, over the liver. This probe emits a low-frequency mechanical wave (around 50 Hz) that passes through the liver tissue.

The faster the wave travels, the stiffer the liver, which can be a sign of advanced liver fibrosis. The device records the echoes of the wave and calculates liver elasticity in real time, expressed in kilopascals (kPa).

The procedure usually takes about 5 to 15 minutes. No anesthesia or special preparation is required, except for fasting for 2 to 3 hours beforehand.

What is the result?

In Turkey, Fibroscan results are available immediately after the examination, allowing the doctor to make a quick and accurate diagnosis.

Liver elasticity is measured in kilopascal (kPa). The obtained value is consistent with about 10 measurements, and the figure is between 2.5 and 75 kPa.

In addition, depending on liver damage, elasticity scores change. The fibrosis is more or less marked, and different stages are described below:

• Minimal fibrosis: between 2.5 and 7 is called F0 or F1.
• Moderate fibrosis: between 7 and 9.5 is called F2.
• Severe fibrosis: between 9.5 and 14. It is called stage F3
• The presence of scar tissue throughout the liver denotes entire liver cirrhosis: beyond 14. It is called stage F4.

Fibroscan results must always be interpreted by a specialist physician. They must be compared with your clinical, biological, and possibly radiological findings in order to make a complete and reliable diagnosis.