FibroScan for Liver Health | Visit Us in the Spokane Metro Area
Without your liver, your body couldn’t control metabolism, detoxification, hormone balance, and overall health. Unfortunately, liver disease often develops silently, with few or no symptoms until damage is advanced.
At ShillMed, we offer FibroScan testing to Spokane patients and help them understand their liver health.
If you are concerned about fatty liver disease, elevated liver enzymes, alcohol-related liver stress, hepatitis, metabolic health, or the impact of diseases that affect the liver like type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or obesity, FibroScan testing in Spokane can provide clear answers and peace of mind.
What Is a FibroScan?
A FibroScan is a specialized diagnostic tool used to evaluate the health of the liver. Unlike traditional ultrasound or imaging studies, a FibroScan doesn’t just take a picture. It physically measures the elasticity of the liver tissue, which provides critical information about scarring and fat accumulation.
The test evaluates two key factors:
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Liver stiffness, which reflects fibrosis or scarring
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Liver fat content, known as steatosis
FibroScan technology combines ultrasound with low-frequency elastic shear waves to measure how “springy” the liver tissue is. Healthy liver tissue is soft and flexible, while scarred or fatty liver tissue becomes stiff.
How the FibroScan Procedure Works
The FibroScan procedure is simple, fast, and patient-friendly. Most appointments take 10 to 15 minutes from start to finish.
During the test, you will lie comfortably on your back while a trained technician or physician places a small probe on the skin over your liver. The probe delivers a painless vibration, called a shear wave, through the liver tissue.
The FibroScan device then measures how quickly the wave travels through the liver:
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Healthy liver tissue allows waves to travel slowly
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Fibrotic or fatty tissue causes waves to travel faster
The results are displayed immediately and include two primary scores:
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Fibrosis Score, measured in kilopascals (kPa), indicating the degree of liver scarring
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CAP Score (Controlled Attenuation Parameter), which estimates the percentage of fat in the liver
There are no needles, no sedation, and no recovery time. You can drive yourself to and from your appointment and return to normal activities right away.
Why FibroScan Is an Important Test for Liver Health
For decades, liver biopsy was considered the gold standard for diagnosing liver disease. While accurate, biopsies are invasive, uncomfortable, and carry risks. FibroScan has transformed liver care by offering a safer, more accessible alternative.
FibroScan vs. Liver Biopsy
FibroScan offers several advantages over traditional biopsy:
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Non-invasive external probe instead of a needle
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No pain beyond a mild vibration sensation
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Test completed in 10–15 minutes
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No recovery time required
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Immediate results
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No risk of bleeding or infection
Because of these benefits, FibroScan has become an essential tool in managing liver conditions such as fatty liver disease (NAFLD, MAFLD and MASH), Hepatitis B and C, and alcohol-related liver damage.
Who Should Consider a FibroScan in Spokane?
FibroScan testing may be appropriate if you:
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Have elevated liver enzymes (ALT, AST)
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Have been diagnosed with fatty liver disease
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Have overweight or obestiy
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Have chronic kidney disease (CKD)
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Have a history of alcohol use affecting liver health
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Have chronic viral hepatitis B or C
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Have metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, or obesity
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Have type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus
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Have other liver conditions such as primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, autoimmune hepatitis, hemochromatosis, Wilson Disease, toxic liver disease, portal hypertension, or HIV
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Want a proactive assessment of liver health
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Are monitoring liver improvement after lifestyle or medical interventions
Even individuals without symptoms can benefit from early liver screening, especially if risk factors are present.
Understanding Your FibroScan Results
After your FibroScan, your provider will review your results with you in detail and explain what your fibrosis score and CAP score reveal about your liver health. These numbers provide far more than a simple yes-or-no diagnosis. They offer insight into how your liver is responding to metabolic stress, inflammation, toxins, infections, and lifestyle factors over time.
From a functional medicine perspective, FibroScan results are not viewed in isolation. Instead, they are used as part of a broader, whole-body assessment to understand why changes are occurring in the liver and how they can be addressed.
What Your Scores Can Tell Us
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Fibrosis score (kPa): Indicates whether scarring is present and how advanced it may be. Early fibrosis is often reversible when root causes are identified and addressed.
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CAP score: Reflects the degree of fat accumulation in the liver, commonly associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, poor diet, alcohol use, or chronic inflammation.
Even mild elevations can signal early dysfunction long before symptoms appear. This is where proactive, functional care becomes especially valuable.
Using Results to Guide Personalized Care
Rather than simply monitoring numbers, your FibroScan results help guide a personalized plan that may include:
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Targeted nutrition strategies to reduce liver fat, stabilize blood sugar, and support detox pathways
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Lifestyle adjustments, such as alcohol reduction, improved sleep, movement, and stress management
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Metabolic optimization, addressing insulin resistance, cholesterol imbalances, or weight-related liver stress
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Supplement or nutrient support when appropriate to assist liver repair and antioxidant defenses
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Additional lab testing if needed to assess inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, viral exposure, or toxin burden
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Medical therapies, including FDA-approved glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) or thyroid hormone receptor-beta (THR-β) agonists medications
Because FibroScan can be safely repeated, it also allows providers to track how well these interventions are working over time. When needed, the test is often repeated every 6 - 12 months to monitor progress. Many patients are encouraged by seeing objective improvements in liver stiffness and fat content as their health changes take effect.
Ongoing Monitoring and Prevention
Comprehensive liver care is not just about treating disease. It’s about preventing progression and supporting long-term resilience. FibroScan makes it possible to monitor trends, confirm improvement, or catch early warning signs before permanent damage develops.
For patients who want a visual overview of the FibroScan procedure and how results are interpreted, a patient-friendly educational video is available. This resource helps explain how the technology works and how the data is used to assess liver health and guide next steps in care.
By combining advanced diagnostics like FibroScan with a functional, root-cause approach, patients gain clarity, direction, and a practical path forward for protecting and improving liver health.
FibroScan Pricing in Spokane
ShillMed is committed to making FibroScan testing accessible to the Spokane community, regardless of insurance coverage.
Through February 2026, we are offering a steeply discounted cash rate of $50 per scan for patients who are out of network with their insurance.
This discounted rate applies to pre-paid scans only.
Medicare patients will not be charged at the time of service, and the procedure will be submitted to your plan for coverage at our list price. If Medicare does not approve payment of the exam, the patient will not be billed.
Our goal is to remove financial barriers while continuing to provide high-quality diagnostic care.
