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When it comes to liver ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ, early detection and ongoing monitoring are critical, but until recently, getting a clear picture of your liver’s condition often required a painful and invasive biopsy. Liver elastography is changing that. This advanced, non-invasive technology enables doctors to quickly, safely, and painlessly assess liver stiffness and fat accumulation.

At NYGA, we utilize liver elastography to help patients better understand their liver ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ, detect silent conditions such as fatty liver disease, and provide treatment options before symptoms worsen.

How Liver Elastography Works

Liver elastography is a type of ultrasound that measures the stiffness or fat content of your liver. It works by sending painless vibrations into the liver and measuring how quickly they move through the tissue. Stiffer liver tissue (often due to scarring or fibrosis) will transmit these vibrations differently than ¾«¶«Ó°Òµy or fatty tissue. The result is a real-time assessment of your liver’s condition, without the need for needles, sedation, or recovery time. PAGE 2 80 arkay drive, suite 220 hauppauge, ny 11788-3705 austinwilliams.com • 631.231.6600 The test takes just a few minutes and is performed in-office. It’s completely non-invasive and doesn’t require any special prep, though your NYGA provider may ask you to fast beforehand to ensure the most accurate results.

What are the benefits of elastography?

The biggest benefit of liver elastography is that it provides crucial insights into your liver’s ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ without a biopsy.:

• It can detect early signs of liver damage even in patients with no symptoms.
• It allows for ongoing monitoring of chronic liver conditions over time.
• It helps guide treatment decisions by identifying levels of fibrosis or steatosis (fat buildup).
• It supports personalized care by tracking disease progression or improvement in response to lifestyle changes and medication.

Liver disease often develops silently. Elastography helps you take action before irreversible damage occurs.

Who should consider liver elastography?

Many people with early liver disease are completely asymptomatic. Liver elastography is particularly beneficial for individuals with specific risk factors or conditions that may affect liver ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ over time.

Diabetes 

People with type 2 diabetes are at significantly higher risk for developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which can progress to fibrosis or cirrhosis if left untreated. Liver elastography can detect these changes early, even before routine laboratory work reveals a problem.

Obesity 

Excess body weight, particularly abdominal fat, is closely associated with liver fat accumulation. Elastography offers a clear picture of whether your liver has been affected by obesity and can be used to monitor improvements as part of a weight-loss or lifestyle plan.

Viral hepatitis 

Chronic hepatitis B or C can silently damage the liver over time. For patients living with viral hepatitis, liver elastography is a valuable tool for assessing liver damage and monitoring response to treatment without the need for repeated biopsies.

Understanding Your Liver Elastography Results 

After your scan, your provider will review the results with you. The test measures two key things: liver stiffness (a marker of fibrosis or scarring) and liver fat content (a sign of steatosis or fatty liver disease). These measurements are reported as numerical scores, which your gastroenterologist will interpret based on your overall ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ, history, and any known liver conditions.

For example, a higher liver stiffness score may indicate advanced fibrosis or early cirrhosis, while a high fat score may suggest MASLD. Either way, the information helps your doctor determine next steps.

Why is liver elastography important? 

Liver disease is one of the fastest-growing ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ concerns in the U.S., but because it often progresses quietly, many people don’t realize they have a problem until it’s advanced. Liver elastography provides a powerful tool for identifying problems early, avoiding unnecessary biopsies, and monitoring the effectiveness of treatments.

At NYGA, we believe that better tools lead to better care. That’s why we offer liver elastography as part of our comprehensive approach to managing liver disease, diabetes, obesity, and other conditions that impact liver ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ.

If you’re at risk or have concerns about your liver, don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Schedule a consultation with a NYGA specialist today and learn how liver elastography can help protect your long-term ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ.

 

Don’t wait—prioritize your ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ today.