According to a story from Healio, recent testing has found that FibroScan, a form of medical imaging, is capable of detecting nonalcoholic steatohepatitis earlier than it would be possible to do so using the standard methods. Diagnosis is a substantial challenge in this rare liver disease, because damage to the liver begins before the symptoms become noticeable. The majority of people with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and related illnesses remain undiagnosed because they have not begun to experience symptoms.
About Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a type of liver disease in which fat is deposited in the liver independent of excessive alcohol consumption. This disease can progress rapidly. Risk factors include metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. There also appears to be some genetic component to the disease as well. This condition also increases the risk of other health problems and liver cancer. Men also seem to be at greater risk, getting the disease as almost twice the rate that women do. Symptoms of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis include jaundice, malaise, fatigue, and abdominal pain or discomfort. Without treatment, the liver can become scarred and the patient may need a liver transplant. However, the condition can also be managed with proper diet, the use of certain medications, and exercise. To learn more about nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, click here.
FibroScan and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
FibroScan is a type of medical imaging modality which has the unique capability of measuring the stiffness and elastic properties of soft tissue. This capability is valuable in detecting nonalcoholic steatohepatitis because of the scarring of tissue that occurs, which can cause liver tissue to harden and stiffen. The data demonstrated that FibroScan could detect a significant number of previously undiagnosed cases that would not have been easily detected otherwise. Overall, patients that were screened with FibroScan were diagnosed with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and related liver diseases at higher rates than those that were not screened.
Early Intervention
The ability of this technology to detect the disease in its early stages highlights the potential for earlier intervention as well. Earlier treatment would most likely result in superior treatment outcomes for patients. Spreading awareness about nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is essential for increasing the rates of prompt follow up care.
