State-Of-The-Art Fibroscan Technology For Liver Disease Diagnosis Available At The Princess Grace Hospital

Main Category: Liver Disease / Hepatitis
Also Included In: MRI / PET / Ultrasound
Article Date: 18 May 2007 - 12:00 PDT

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A new FibroScan® machine that uses the latest technology for diagnosing liver damage is now available at the private Princess Grace Hospital in central London. FibroScan® uses ultrasound elastography to measure liver stiffness - it is medically accepted that an unhealthy cirrhotic liver is firmer than a healthy liver. Expert consultants use the innovative computerised system to give patients an immediate, non-invasive and painless measurement of the health of their liver, without the need for an overnight stay in hospital. The Princess Grace Hospital is dedicated to bringing the latest technology in the diagnosis and treatment of liver disease to its specialist Centre for Medical and Surgical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

FibroScan® can be used to evaluate the extent of liver damage in all patients suffering from chronic liver disease, irrespective of the underlying cause, such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease and autoimmune hepatitis. It is painless and has none of the morbidity or mortality associated with needle biopsy of the liver.

"FibroScan® is a great asset in our fight against liver disease, which is the fifth most common cause of death in the UK," said Dr Richard Marley, Joint Chair of the Centre for Medical and Surgical Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Princess Grace Hospital. "Diagnosing liver disease and damage as early as possible is paramount in giving patients the best chances of recovery and, in many cases, the stimulus to change their lifestyles to improve their liver health. With FibroScan®, we can generate an instant liver stiffness reading to accurately assess damage caused by liver disease - it is completely painless and the whole procedure can be done in just 15 minutes."

With FibroScan®, a consultant holds a probe against the patient's abdomen, on the right lobe of the liver. Vibrations from the probe create elastic waves through the liver and their spread is then tracked by ultrasound. The speed of propagation of the waves is directly correlated to the stiffness of the liver tissue. An algorithm calculates the velocity of the wave, and the elasticity can be measured - the faster the wave spreads, the stiffer the tissue. A reading based on the median value of ten valid measurements is generated by the FibroScan®'s sophisticated computer system. This examination can be repeated as often as is necessary to monitor the progression of the disease with or without treatment.

Ultrasound elastography offers several advantages over other techniques employed in the diagnosis of liver disease. Unlike with a needle biopsy of the liver, no anaesthetic is needed with FibroScan and the patient can be discharged immediately. Also, ultrasound elastography is more similar to seismology than to ultrasound imaging ��" the acquisition speed is very high and the acquisitions are therefore not biased by cardiac or respiratory movements as they are with ultrasound imaging.

"At the Centre for Medical and Surgical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, we are committed to the early, accurate diagnosis and treatment of all liver and gastroenterological disorders," commented Professor David Silk, joint chair of the centre. "FibroScan® is one example of the state-of-the-art medical technology made available to expert consultant hepatologists and patients at The Princess Grace Hospital in the fight against liver disease."

A scan using FibroScan® costs £235. For further information on FibroScan® or to make an appointment for a consultation, contact the Centre for Medical and Surgical Gastroenterology and Hepatology at The Princess Grace Hospital:

FibroScan is manufactured by Echosens -www.echosens.com.

About The Princess Grace Hospital

The Princess Grace Hospital, part of HCA International, was established in 1977 and is one of the best-equipped, multi-disciplinary private hospitals in the capital, offering first class patient care across a wide range of specialties. It has 110 medical and surgical beds, three intensive care beds, two high dependency beds, six operating theatres and one of the most advanced and best-equipped diagnostic imaging departments in London. It also has a wide range of specialist clinical centres are supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging, advanced medical technology, physiotherapy and outpatient services. These include the Brain and Spine Centre, Comprehensive Breast Care Centre, London Prostate Centre, Urgent Care Centre and the Snowsports Injuries Centre.

The hospital continually brings the latest, proven technologies in all medical and surgical disciplines to its consultants, patients, and customers.

For further information, please see The Princess Grace Hospital website at: www.theprincessgracehospital.co.uk.

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