SCRMC First in the Nation to Provide Integrated Ultrasound & FibroScan Technology

FibroScan is an Alternative to Liver Biopsy.

South Central Regional Medical Center (SCRMC) in Laurel is the first facility in the nation to provide a new type of integrated Ultrasound and FibroScan® technology. The FibroScan® unit is actually built into the ultrasound technology at SCRMC, which allows the ultrasound technologist an efficient way of scanning the liver or other areas of the body for damage caused by disease.

Liver disease is an important problem worldwide, and a predominant issue with many residents in Jones County. Accurately diagnosing liver fibrosis and inflammation activity is one of the most important factors in determining the stage of disease and assessing a patient’s prognosis.  Gastrointestinal physicians – Dr. Carolyn Cegielski, Dr. Jesse Ezell and Dr. Stephen Johnson – have taken a proactive approach to patient care and new technology by securing a non-invasive way to measure liver fibrosis through FibroScan® technology.

The Gastrointestinal providers in Laurel stated, “We are proud to be able to incorporate this new technology into our practice. We try to perform at the highest level and provide the most current services to our patients. This is an alternative to a liver biopsy and will enable treatment responses to a wide range of disorders including: viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, drug induced liver disease, primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis.”

FibroScan® uses elastography which measures the stiffness of your liver. It is a non-invasive, painless alternative to liver biopsy and is used by the multi-disciplinary team at SCRMC for looking at liver damage from conditions such as Hepatitis C. It can be performed quickly and easily in South Central’s Radiology Department. The test results show the condition of the liver and allows physicians to quantify disease by a CAP score. This assesses your condition, together with the results of your blood tests and any other diagnostic procedures you may have.

Fred Vial, MD, Interventional Radiologist at South Central Regional Medical Center, said, “We are pleased to offer this new technology to our patients at South Central. The traditional way to diagnose liver disease is through a liver biopsy. The FibroScan® technique is similar to ultrasound. This comprehensive diagnostic technology will provide a non-invasive tool to diagnose and monitor diseases of the liver.”

Liver disease can be caused by fatty infiltration, genetics or by a variety of factors that damage the liver, such as viruses and alcohol use. Over time, damage to the liver results in scarring, known as cirrhosis. This can lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition. Whether the liver is infected by a virus, injured from chemicals or attacked by an immune system, the liver will become damaged and unable to support life. For those who are battling symptoms of liver disease, FibroScan® is an FDA approved technology that offers a quick and painless approach to liver health.

During the procedure, the FibroScan® uses an ultrasound probe which emits a mechanical pulse at the surface of the skin, measuring the condition of the liver through sound waves. The data is analyzed by a computer which displays a two-dimensional picture of the liver. The level of the fibrosis can be measured in relation to the stiffness of the liver – so the harder the liver is, the more serious the fibrosis is likely to be.

During the procedure you lie on your back with your right arm raised behind your head. The procedure typically takes fifteen minutes. There is no need for an anesthetic and there are no side-effects.

Your physician may recommend a FibroScan® test if you have one of the following chronic liver conditions:

• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Alcoholic Liver Disease
• Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
• Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Genetic Diseases such as Hemochromatosis and Wilson’s Disease
• Cirrhosis