Chronic liver diseases remain asymptomatic for a long time and initially often manifest only through elevated liver values in routine blood tests.
If these are present, two things are crucial: the diagnosis of the cause and the determination of the extent of liver damage that has already occurred.
Chronic liver diseases lead to liver scarring
Most causes of liver diseases lead to chronic inflammation, which is accompanied by a scarring process (fibrosis) that can progress to liver cirrhosis. In this case, the risk of severe complications such as ascites, variceal bleeding from the esophagus, and liver cancer is significantly increased. Early detection of advanced fibrosis or liver cirrhosis is therefore of particular importance in order to avoid these life-threatening complications.
FibroScan®: Determination and monitoring of liver scarring
Until recently, a reliable determination of the extent of liver fibrosis was only possible by means of a tissue sample taken from the liver (liver biopsy). Imed19 now offers a reliable, painless, fast, and outpatient alternative: with the help of a special ultrasound probe, a painless low-frequency impulse is transmitted through the skin to the liver. The faster this impulse propagates in the liver, the stiffer (more scarred) the liver is. This method is also ideal for monitoring a liver disease after initiation of a specific therapy, as liver scarring can regress with successful treatment.
FibroScan®: Determination and monitoring of liver fat content
With the integrated CAP technology, fatty liver can be diagnosed and the course of treatment success can be monitored.
Preparation/Duration
Please come to the examination fasting. The examination takes 10–15 minutes.
Costs:
The cost of the FibroScan® examination is 90 euros and is not covered by Austrian public health insurance. The invoice can be submitted if private outpatient health insurance is in place.