What is a FibroScan?
FibroScan is a specialized ultrasound machine to scan your liver to measure fibrosis (scarring) and steatosis (fat accumulation) in the liver. This helps your doctor to understand your liver disease. Your doctor may also order other tests to evaluate your liver, such as blood tests, other imaging scans, or biopsies. Your doctor will explain your results during your appointment.
What is a CAP Score?
Your Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) score is a measurement of fat accumulation in your liver for your doctor to further determine your steatosis grade.
The CAP score ranges from 100 to 400 decibels per meter (dB/m). The table below will help you categorize your CAP scores into a certain steatosis grade and the range of percentage of fatty change.
| CAP Score | Steatosis Grade | % of Liver with Fatty Change |
| 238 to 260 dB/m | S1 | 11% to 33% |
| 260 to 290 dB/m | S2 | 34% to 66% |
| Higher than 260 dB/m | S3 | 67% or more |
What is your Fibrosis Result?
Your fibrosis result is a quantification of the amount of liver scarring by measuring the stiffness of your liver. The normal fibrosis result ranges from 2 to 6 kilopascals (kPa), while the highest possible result is 75 kPa. Those who have liver abnormalities will have a higher result than normal.
Basically, your doctor will use your fibrosis result and medical history to categorize your fibrosis score.
- Fibrosis score F0 to F1: No liver scarring or mild liver scarring
- Fibrosis score F2: Moderate liver scarring
- Fibrosis score F3: Severe liver scarring
- Fibrosis score F4: Advanced liver scarring (cirrhosis)
Can I estimate my Fibrosis Score using my FibroScan fibrosis result?
The following table shows liver diseases, ranges of fibrosis results, and the matching fibrosis score. Please note that the ranges of fibrosis results in the table are estimates. Your actual fibrosis score (as told by your doctor) may not even match the fibrosis score in the table. This table cannot be used if you have more than one liver disease.
To use the table, firstly find the liver disease that you have on the first column. Then, read across the row to find the range that includes your fibrosis result. Lastly, take a look at the top of that column to find your fibrosis score.
| Conditions | F0 to F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 |
| Hepatitis B | 2 to 7 kPa | 8 to 9 kPa | 8 to 11 kPa | 18 kPa or higher |
| Hepatitis C | 2 to 7 kPa | 8 to 9 kPa | 9 to 14 kPa | 14 kPa or higher |
| HIV/HCV Coinfection | 2 to 7 kPa | 7 to 11 kPa | 11 to 14 kPa | 14 kPa or higher |
| Cholestatic Disease | 2 to 7 kPa | 7 to 9 kPa | 9 to 17 kPa | 17 kPa or higher |
| Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) | 2 to 7 kPa | 7.5 to 10 kPa | 10 to 14 kPa | 14 kPa or higher |
| Alcohol Related Disease | 2 to 7 kPa | 7 to 11 kPa | 11 to 19 kPa | 19 kPa or higher |
How accurate is my FibroScan result?
In some cases, your liver may actually have less scarring than what the FibroScan fibrosis result says. This may happen if you have:
- Liver inflammation, either caused by recent liver illness or drinking alcohol
- Liver tumor, either benign or cancerous
- Liver congestion (a condition when the liver is too full of blood or other fluids) often correlated with heart failure
Your FibroScan results may also be less accurate if you have:
- Obesity, a body mass index (BMI) higher than 30
- Ascites (fluid accumulation in your abdomen)
- Biliary obstruction (your bile cannot flow out of the liver properly)
Source: Memorial Sloan Ketterin Cancer Centter
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/understanding-your-fibroscan-results
