Fibroscan’ soon expected to replace biopsy for diagnosing liver cirrhosis
28 July 2014 5:52 AM IST
A new technique called ‘Fibroscan’ is soon expected to replace the conventional and expensive liver biopsy method currently used to diagnose liver cirrhosis, more popularly known as ‘stiffness of the liver’.
In India, thousands of people who are overweight, alcoholic, who have a fatty liver or a liver already diseased by Hepatitis B or C, fall prey to liver cirrhosis every year, ultimately leading to liver failure.
Till now, the golden standard for diagnosing liver cirrhosis is biopsy of the liver, which is a complicated procedure and costs around Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 and needs day-care observation.
‘But Fibroscan, is a non-invasive process, would cost around Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000, can be done within 15 to 20 minutes and it has proven to be as accurate as a liver biopsy,’ says Dr Anil Arora, Head of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi.
The utility of the Fibroscan technique was proved in a study conducted at the Gastroenterology department of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, which was authored by department head Dr Anil Arora. On the eve of World Hepatitis Day (28 July) it has been accepted for publication in the Indian Journal of Gastroenterology.
Dr Arora further says: ‘The specific symptoms of liver cirrhosis include jaundice, swelling of the feet and/or blood vomiting. But unfortunately, these symptoms are only seen when the liver reaches end-stage cirrhosis. Hence, early diagnosis is very necessary.’ Fibroscan can predict liver stiffening with 90 percent accuracy in both early and end stages of the disease, he adds.
This study has opened a new pathway in the treatment of liver cirrhosis.
‘Fibroscan can obviate the need of liver biopsy in more than 90 percent of the patients as it can
make the same diagnosis at one-third the cost and without any complications,’ says Dr Praveen Sharma, consultant in gastroenterology.
In India, thousands of people who are overweight, alcoholic, who have a fatty liver or a liver already diseased by Hepatitis B or C, fall prey to liver cirrhosis every year, ultimately leading to liver failure.
Till now, the golden standard for diagnosing liver cirrhosis is biopsy of the liver, which is a complicated procedure and costs around Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 and needs day-care observation.
‘But Fibroscan, is a non-invasive process, would cost around Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000, can be done within 15 to 20 minutes and it has proven to be as accurate as a liver biopsy,’ says Dr Anil Arora, Head of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi.
The utility of the Fibroscan technique was proved in a study conducted at the Gastroenterology department of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, which was authored by department head Dr Anil Arora. On the eve of World Hepatitis Day (28 July) it has been accepted for publication in the Indian Journal of Gastroenterology.
Dr Arora further says: ‘The specific symptoms of liver cirrhosis include jaundice, swelling of the feet and/or blood vomiting. But unfortunately, these symptoms are only seen when the liver reaches end-stage cirrhosis. Hence, early diagnosis is very necessary.’ Fibroscan can predict liver stiffening with 90 percent accuracy in both early and end stages of the disease, he adds.
This study has opened a new pathway in the treatment of liver cirrhosis.
‘Fibroscan can obviate the need of liver biopsy in more than 90 percent of the patients as it can
make the same diagnosis at one-third the cost and without any complications,’ says Dr Praveen Sharma, consultant in gastroenterology.
Next Story
