Liver Elastography

Liver elastography is a non-invasive imaging exam that measures the stiffness of your liver. It helps detect and monitor conditions such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and liver disease — providing a low-risk alternative to liver biopsies for some patients.

Liver elastography is performed to evaluate liver stiffness, which helps your doctor detect and monitor conditions such as:

• Liver fibrosis
• Cirrhosis
• Chronic hepatitis
• Liver disease

This imaging exam is especially helpful for patients undergoing treatment for liver disease, allowing for ongoing monitoring without the need for invasive liver biopsies.

Liver elastography uses high-frequency ultrasound waves to measure the elasticity (stiffness) of liver tissue. The process involves:

• A handheld probe (transducer) emitting sound waves into the liver
• These waves generate shear waves that move through the tissue
• The speed of the waves reflects how stiff or soft the tissue is
• A color-coded map and quantitative analysis are produced in real time

This allows radiologists to assess the liver with high accuracy and reliability in real time.

Before the Exam

• Fast for 6–8 hours prior to your appointment (unless otherwise directed).
• Wear loose-fitting clothing and remove any jewelry or accessories.
• You may be asked to change into a gown.

During the Exam

• You’ll lie on an exam table.
• A warm, water-based gel will be applied to your skin.
• A technologist will move the transducer over your abdomen.
• You will be asked to hold your breath for up to 6 seconds while images and videos are captured.
• This process is repeated several times to gather accurate data.

After the Exam

• The gel will be wiped off.
• There is no recovery time needed — you can return to normal activities right away.
• Your results will be reviewed by a board-certified radiologist and sent to your referring provider.

• Do not eat or drink for 6–8 hours before the exam, unless directed otherwise.
• Wear comfortable clothing and leave jewelry and accessories at home.

BENEFITS

• Non-invasive
• No radiation exposure
• Can help monitor liver disease progression or treatment response
• May reduce the need for liver biopsies
• Provides real-time imaging for immediate analysis

RISKS

• There are no known risks associated with ultrasound-based liver elastography
• The procedure is considered safe for most patients, including children and pregnant individuals (with provider guidance)