Good Samaritan Announces New Procedure to Detect Liver Disease

Good Samaritan introduces area residents to FibroScan -- an FDA-approved, non-Invasive, painless test to measure fat and liver stiffness. Because the liver is a fundamental part of the body’s overall regulation and good health, Good Samaritan is helping patients take an important step toward the opportunity to prevent and/or halt liver disease.

“Liver disease is highly prevalent in patients with diabetes mellitus, and increasing evidence suggests that patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are at a particularly high risk for developing progressive forms of liver disease associated with advanced liver fibrosis,” says Oluwagbenga Serrano, MD, Good Samaritan Gastroenterologist. “FibroScan is an important way to significantly improve detection of fibrosis, and

helps physicians properly identify individuals who need further testing. If left untreated, over time, liver disease can lead to a more serious stage called cirrhosis, a scarring of the liver that can lead to liver failure – the number one reason for liver transplants for end-stage liver disease or liver cancer. For these reasons, we recommend FibroScan as the optimal approach to assessment of liver health and early detection of disease.”

How FibroScan works:

• The patients lie comfortably on an exam table
• The medical professional applies a water-based gel on the patient’s skin and places the Fibroscan probe on the right side of the ribcage
• The medical professional then takes 10 quick, painless measurements
• Results will be interpreted by a provider

“The good news is that most liver disease is preventable,” explains Dr. Serrano. “FibroScan provides providers with consistent results that enable us to make the most

informed treatment decisions while providing patients with a quick, painless experience. Furthermore, FibroScan results may also rule out the need for a painful, expensive liver biopsy or other invasive testing.”

For more information, contact your primary care provider for a referral or call Good Samaritan Gastroenterology at 812-882-2760.