Liver Ultrasound & Elastography
What Is a Liver Ultrasound & Elastography?
At Ultrasound Ireland, we offer two advanced ultrasound techniques for assessing liver health: Liver Ultrasound Scan (€170) for general liver health assessment, and Liver Elastography Scan (€270) which uses Shear Wave Elastography technology to measure liver stiffness — an important indicator of liver fibrosis and fatty liver disease.
Liver stiffness increases when the liver is damaged by fat accumulation, inflammation, or scarring. Liver elastography can detect early changes before symptoms appear, allowing for intervention through lifestyle changes or medical treatment.
What We Assess With This Scan
- Liver size, shape, and texture
- Fat deposits within the liver
- Cysts, masses, or lesions
- Gallbladder and bile ducts
- Liver stiffness (elastography only — indicates scarring/fibrosis)
- Colour-coded stiffness map of liver tissue (elastography only)
This scan cannot assess:
- Liver cancer specifically (if suspected, your doctor will recommend additional imaging)
- Definitive diagnosis without clinical context and blood tests
Why You Might Need This Scan
Common symptoms:
- •Right-sided abdominal discomfort
- •Fatigue
- •Unexplained weight loss
- •Jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes)
- •Abnormal liver function blood tests
Conditions we assess:
- •Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
- •Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
- •Liver fibrosis (early scarring)
- •Cirrhosis (advanced scarring)
- •Hepatitis-related liver changes
- •Alcohol-related liver disease
What to Expect
Before Your Scan
You must fast for at least 6-7 hours before your scan. This includes food and drinks (except small sips of water with medication). Fasting improves image quality and accuracy of stiffness measurements.
Preparation checklist:
- Fast for 6-7 hours before your appointment
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing
- Arrive 10 minutes before your appointment time
During the Scan
You'll lie on an examination table on your back. The sonographer applies warm gel to your abdomen and gently moves the ultrasound probe across your skin. For elastography, the probe also sends painless low-frequency vibrations into the liver to measure tissue stiffness. You won't feel these vibrations. Liver Ultrasound takes 15-30 minutes; Liver Elastography takes 30-45 minutes.
After Your Scan
You can eat and drink normally immediately after. There are no restrictions — resume normal activities straight away.
Results & Next Steps
Your scan is reviewed by a consultant radiologist, who prepares a formal report. This report is sent to your referring doctor within 2-3 working days. For elastography, stiffness is measured in kilopascals (kPa) — lower values indicate healthy, soft liver tissue.
Pricing
Price: €170 / €270 (Medical Card: €150 / €250)
Cancellation: We require 24 hours notice for cancellations or rescheduling.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Our experienced team is available 7 days a week across our three Dublin locations.