General Screening Recommendations
The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) has issued the following screening recommendations for liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC):
- Patients at high risk for developing liver cancer should enter into screening programs
- Patients on the liver transplant waiting list should be screened for liver cancer for two reasons:
- In the United States, people who develop liver cancer are given increased priority for liver transplants
- Failure to screen could result in patients developing liver cancer that progresses beyond the acceptable criteria for a liver transplant
- Screening for liver cancer should be performed using ultrasound imaging
- The alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) blood test is not sensitive or specific enough to be used alone for screening or diagnosis of liver cancer
- Patients should be screened at 6 month intervals if they have chronic hepatitis B or C infections
Liver Elastography (FibroScan)
A FibroScan device uses special ultrasound technology that measures liver stiffness, or hardness that results from liver disease and scarring. It also measures the amount of fat in the liver. Liver stiffness is measured in kilopascals (kPA) and is used to generate a fibrosis score. Liver fat is measured in decibels per meter (dB/m) and is used to calculate the percentage of fat in the liver. These scores can be used to initially help evaluate the liver and later compare fibrosis and fat over time. For additional information, refer to Understanding Your Liver Elastography (FibroScan) Results.
*The machine and process of having a Fibroscan looks similar to an ultrasound.
Here is a short video looking at the machine and the process. If you have a Fibroscan report, use this guide from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital to learn if you have hepatitis B related fibrosis or fatty liver disease. Fibroscan requires the use of a specific machine and may not be available everywhere or may not be covered under your health insurance.