San Raffaele Hospital is a top European research center with Italy's IRCCS accreditation. It achieved the world's first stem cell therapy for severe combined immune deficiency. Its main specialties are oncology, neurosurgery, and cardiovascular surgery.
San Raffaele Hospital is a top European research center with Italy's IRCCS accreditation. It achieved the world's first stem cell therapy for severe combined immune deficiency. Its main specialties are oncology, neurosurgery, and cardiovascular surgery.
San Donato Hospital is an IRCCS-accredited cardiology and cardiac surgery center. It performs over 9,400 heart and blood vessel operations each year – the most in Italy. Core specialties include cardiology, cardiac surgery, arrhythmology, and rehabilitation.
San Donato Hospital is an IRCCS-accredited cardiology and cardiac surgery center. It performs over 9,400 heart and blood vessel operations each year – the most in Italy. Core specialties include cardiology, cardiac surgery, arrhythmology, and rehabilitation.
IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi – Sant'Ambrogio is Italy's first orthopedic hospital and a government-authorized research institute (IRCCS). Its core specialties include joint surgery, spine surgery, and stem cell therapy. Part of Gruppo San Donato, the country's first healthcare network.
IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi – Sant'Ambrogio is Italy's first orthopedic hospital and a government-authorized research institute (IRCCS). Its core specialties include joint surgery, spine surgery, and stem cell therapy. Part of Gruppo San Donato, the country's first healthcare network.
Fibroscanning (elastography, elastometry) is a modern innovative study, most often used in liver fibrosis and avoiding a more traumatic biopsy procedure. It is carried out without direct invasive intervention, while the indications have maximum accuracy and diagnostic efficiency for making a diagnosis. The safety of fibroscanning makes it possible to use the method not only as a clarifying diagnosis, but also to monitor the effectiveness of treatment in dynamics, as well as to observe pathological changes during the course of the disease.
Unlike the minimally invasive but surgical method of biopsy, the principle of fibroscanning is based on ultrasound scanning of the differences in the reflection of wave vibrations from tissues of various densities, which is transmitted to a computer monitor and processed as a result of an examination by a computer program.
The main disease in which fibroscanning is performed is liver fibrosis of various origins. Fibroscanning of the liver was developed methodically by professor-hepatologist Thierry Poinar. Currently, his invention is the world standard for diagnostics in hepatology. However, in other diseases with similar pathophysiological changes, this method is also applicable and effective.
It is used for such diseases:
However, for all its versatility, painlessness and accuracy, the method also has its contraindications:
Highly qualified specialists highly appreciated the possibilities of fiber scanning, but true professionalism lies in a balanced attitude to any methods. Therefore, the disadvantages of elastometry are also taken into account:
Preparation for the Fibroscanning procedure involves not eating a few hours before the examination, that is, you need to undergo Fibroscanning on an empty stomach. No other special preparation is required. The process itself is most similar to an ultrasound. It is carried out lying down, without pain, the result is ready immediately upon completion of the procedure.
The patient assumes a horizontal position. In the region of the sixth-eighth intercostal space, a sensor is installed, with the help of which at least seven measurements are made. The computer program of the elastomer calculates the amount of liver elasticity based on the obtained data. The conclusion on the results of the study contains information about the structure of the liver, its morphological and functional indicators. A conclusion is made about the ratio of the volume of fibrous and normal tissues.
The efficiency of elastography reaches 97%, which makes this diagnostic technique a good alternative to other studies. This type of diagnosis significantly reduces not only the discomfort of the subject and the risk of bleeding (compared to a biopsy), but also minimizes the likelihood of false results due to erroneous sampling of the biopsy. The cost of this procedure is lower than that of a biopsy and the time to results is minimal. That is why this modern and effective method quickly began to be widely and successfully used by hepatologists in Israel, Turkey, the EU countries and the United States.