Understanding FibroScan: A Modern Approach to Liver HealthFor decades, the "gold standard" for assessing liver health was the liver biopsy—an invasive procedure requiring a needle, local anesthesia, and a period of recovery. Today, a technology called FibroScan (transient elastography) has transformed hepatology by offering a painless, non-invasive alternative that takes less than ten minutes.How It Works: The Science of "Stiffness"FibroScan works on a simple physical principle: healthy liver tissue is soft and elastic, while scarred or fatty tissue is stiff. The device uses a handheld probe that sends a low-frequency vibration (a "shear wave") through the liver.
As this wave travels, the machine measures its velocity using ultrasound.Faster waves indicate a stiffer liver, suggesting higher levels of scarring (fibrosis).Slower waves indicate a more supple, healthy liver.The results are typically measured in kilopascals (kPa). A normal reading usually falls between $2$ and $7\text{ kPa}$, while higher numbers may signal advanced fibrosis…