A FibroScan is a type of ultrasound that measures scarring called fibrosis in your liver. An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves that painlessly bounce off your liver to estimate liver stiffness. This non-invasive imaging test helps your doctor keep tabs on your health.

During FibroScan testing, a device delivers ultrasound waves through the liver from outside the body. The speed these waves travel through the liver can help measure liver stiffness, which can be important in determining the extent of liver fibrosis, and the patient’s level of steatosis (fatty liver), which is a buildup of excess fat in the liver. Both these issues can be symptoms of chronic liver disease.

A FibroScan result, along with other diagnostic procedures like blood tests, can help healthcare providers monitor overall liver health and determine the extent of a patient’s liver scarring (fibrosis).