FibroScan® is a non-invasive device that assesses the ‘hardness’ (or stiffness) of the liver via the technique of transient elastography. Liver hardness is evaluated by measuring the velocity of a vibration wave (also called a ‘shear wave’) generated on the skin. Shear wave velocity is determined by measuring the time the vibration wave takes to travel to a particular depth inside the liver.1 A graphical representation of this is provided on the screen (Figure 1). Because fibrous tissue is harder than normal liver, the degree of hepatic fibrosis can be inferred from the liver hardness. To improve test reliability a minimum of 10 valid readings, with at least a 60% success rate and an interquartile range of =30% of the median value, are taken with the results expressed in kilopascals (kPa).1,2 NOTE . 10 valid readings With at LEAST 60% success rate. In addition , the fatter the patient , the less accurate the tests.
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