1 October 2025 What is liver elastography? Transient liver elastography (or Fibroscan®) is used to detect fibrosis and fat in the liver. How is liver elastography performed? It is carried out with a probe that sends ultrasound waves through the liver. How long does a liver elastography take? Transient liver elastography only takes around 15 minutes . Here are its main characteristics: It is painless; It is not invasive; It does not use radiation; The result is obtained immediately. When is a liver elastography performed? This scan is useful to investigate and monitor people with liver disease: Diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver; Assessing liver fibrosis and its severity in multiple liver disease: Chronic viral hepatitis B and C; Non-alcoholic fatty liver; Alcoholic liver disease; Other liver diseases such as haemochromatosis; Other metabolic or auto-immune diseases; Assessing fattiness of the liver (steatosis). What preparation is necessary for this exam? This exam does not require any special preparations , though fasting for four hours is recommended before it is performed. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
