Centra is at the forefront of liver disease management with the incorporation of FibroScan Go, an innovative, non-invasive technology that assesses liver health with speed and precision. FibroScan has transformed how at-risk patients are evaluated, allowing for early detection and treatment of liver disease.
Dr. Bikram Bal, Chief Medical Officer for Centra Medical Group, and Nurse Practitioner Robin Vaughn are trained and certified to do Fibroscans and have seen firsthand the difference the technology has made.
“A liver FibroScan, also known as transient elastography, uses ultrasound technology to measure liver stiffness,” Bal said. “It's a non-invasive procedure that involves sending sound waves into the liver and measuring how long it takes to bounce back. By determining the stiffness of the liver, we can measure the amount of disease that exists in the liver.”
Liver disease can progress silently until it reaches advanced stages. FibroScan Go helps detect early liver disease so measures can be taken to stop its progress and prevent end-stage liver disease or cirrhosis.
Dr. Bal shared that the most common risk factors for liver disease in patients include Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), formerly known as NAFLD/NASH, alcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune liver disorders, chronic viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B and C) and Hemochromatosis.
“Due to the current obesity epidemic in the country, MASLD is one of the most common liver diseases,” Bal said. “It is closely associated with other metabolic abnormalities like diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity.”
Previously, diagnosing liver disease severity required a liver biopsy, an invasive procedure with risks such as bleeding and infection. FibroScan eliminates these risks while offering comparable diagnostic accuracy in a quick, painless test that takes just 20-30 minutes and provides immediate results.
“Patients with elevated liver enzymes, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, or a family history of liver disease should discuss this test with their primary care provider,” Bal said. Those with moderate to heavy alcohol consumption or a combination of risk factors are also candidates for screening.
Based on the results, a personalized treatment plan is developed during the same visit. If advanced liver disease is detected, patients receive a comprehensive plan that may include weight management strategies, cholesterol and diabetes control, and guidance on reducing alcohol intake.
Many patients dismiss fatty liver disease because it is often asymptomatic in the early stages. However, early detection and intervention are essential to prevent severe complications.
