Elastography
Reviewed
Elastography is an imaging test that measures stiffness in organs, mainly the liver, to detect scarring (fibrosis) caused by liver disease.
Preparation and collection
Wear a loose-fitting shirt or sweater that can be easily pulled up. You may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test. If having an MRE, remove all metal objects and inform your provider about any medical devices or metal inside your body. Tell your provider if you are or could be pregnant.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- Liver inflammation (swelling) from illness or alcohol can affect accuracy
- Tumors in the liver can affect accuracy
- Obesity can affect accuracy
- Abnormal fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites) can affect accuracy
What to do next
Talk with your healthcare provider about your results. If you have mild to severe fibrosis or fatty liver disease, treatment of the cause and lifestyle changes (diet, exercise) may improve your condition. If you have cirrhosis, treating the cause may prevent worsening and may slowly improve some scarring.