Liver elastography and steatometry
Elastography is an ultrasound test that measures how stiff your liver is. Healthy liver tissue is soft. Long-term inflammation slowly lays down scar tissue (fibrosis), and the liver hardens. Steatometry measures something else: how much fat sits in the liver. Both are done with the same probe during an ultrasound. No needles, no pain. In most cases they replace a biopsy for staging liver disease and tracking treatment. At Oberig Clinic the test runs on an expert-class ACUSON Sequoia (Siemens) ultrasound system.
What liver elastography shows
The probe sends a push into the liver that creates a shear wave. The stiffer the tissue, the faster the wave travels. The machine turns that speed into kilopascals (kPa). From this number the doctor sets the fibrosis stage, from F0 (none) to F4 (cirrhosis). You may see it called liver stiffness measurement. Many patients search for "FibroScan". That is the brand name of one device. The method is the same, stiffness is also given in kPa, and you can compare results over time.
Biopsy was the gold standard for years. But the sample is only 1/50,000 of the liver, and the procedure carries a risk of complications. You can repeat elastography as often as needed. That is why it is part of the standard work-up for chronic viral hepatitis.
Who needs the test
A hepatologist or gastroenterologist orders elastography for chronic hepatitis B and C, fatty liver disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes, long-term alcohol use, autoimmune liver disease, and raised ALT and AST with no clear cause. Steatometry is added when the doctor needs a number for liver fat and wants to see if diet and weight loss are working. During hepatitis treatment the test is repeated to check if fibrosis is going down. Children have it for chronic liver disease and for fatty liver, which is becoming more common with childhood obesity.
Elastography, biopsy or MRI?
These tests work together. Elastography comes first: quick, painless, results on the spot. If the numbers fall between two stages or do not match your blood tests, the doctor may order a liver MRI with fat analysis (LiverLab) or a biopsy. Today biopsy is done only for clear reasons, for example to find the exact cause of liver damage. For follow-up over time, elastography is the most practical option. You can repeat it with no risk.
Elastography of other organs
The same method measures stiffness beyond the liver. Doctors call it a "virtual touch". It helps sort out lumps in the breast and thyroid, enlarged lymph nodes and soft tissue masses. Firm, stiff areas more often need a biopsy. Soft ones with typical features can be watched over time. That way elastography spares you needless needle tests. It is done during a regular ultrasound of that organ. Surface organs need no preparation.
How to prepare
- come on an empty stomach: last meal 8 hours before, and no drinks or chewing gum in the morning,
- for 2-3 days, cut back on foods that cause bloating: beans, cabbage, fresh bread, fizzy drinks,
- bring a referral with your diagnosis and liver tests (ALT, AST, bilirubin) from the last 3 months,
- tell the doctor your height, weight and if you have diabetes, as they affect how the result is read.
What happens during the test
You lie on your back with your right arm behind your head. This widens the gaps between your ribs. First the doctor looks at the liver in normal ultrasound mode. Then the elastography mode goes on, and the doctor takes 10 readings at different points in the right lobe. For each one you hold your breath for a few seconds. The doctor picks an area free of large vessels and artefacts, at the same depth each time. It takes 15-20 minutes, or about 40 minutes together with an abdominal ultrasound. You feel only the probe and the gel. If the readings are unstable, from breathing or a thick layer of fat under the skin, the doctor repeats them until the result is reliable. So lie still and follow the breathing commands closely.
Normal values and fibrosis stages
You get the result right away. It shows the median of 10 readings and a quality index. The kPa values roughly match these stages (cut-offs depend on the device and the cause of disease, your doctor interprets them):
| Liver stiffness | Fibrosis stage (METAVIR) |
|---|---|
| up to 7 kPa | F0-F1, no or minimal fibrosis |
| 7-9.5 kPa | F2, moderate fibrosis |
| 9.5-12.5 kPa | F3, advanced fibrosis |
| over 12.5 kPa | F4, cirrhosis |
The reading is always matched to your blood tests. Acute hepatitis, bile backing up, heart failure and even a big breakfast raise stiffness without any fibrosis. Steatometry gives a liver fat fraction. Up to 5% is normal. Above that means fatty liver of varying degree. The final word comes from your gastroenterologist.
Common questions
Can I combine it with an abdominal ultrasound?
Yes, and it costs less: an abdominal ultrasound with liver elastography is UAH 1,695 in one visit.
How often should I repeat it?
During hepatitis treatment or weight loss, usually every 6-12 months. Your doctor sets the exact schedule.
What if fibrosis is found?
Do not panic. Early fibrosis can reverse. After hepatitis treatment, giving up alcohol or losing weight, liver stiffness often goes down. A gastroenterologist or hepatologist builds the treatment plan with you.
Are there any contraindications?
No. Pregnant women and children can have it. Accuracy drops with fluid in the abdomen (ascites) and severe obesity. In those cases the doctor will suggest another test.
Liver elastography prices
Liver elastography on its own costs UAH 1,445 at Oberig Clinic. With an abdominal ultrasound it is UAH 1,695, cheaper than booking both separately. Steatometry is done by Nataliia Riepina, Honoured Doctor of Ukraine. On its own it costs UAH 1,430, or UAH 2,370 together with an abdominal ultrasound.
| Test | Price |
|---|---|
| Liver elastography during ultrasound (stand-alone) | UAH 1,445 |
| Abdominal ultrasound with liver elastography | UAH 1,695 |
| Abdominal ultrasound with liver elastography by Honoured Doctor N. Riepina | UAH 1,960 |
| Liver steatometry by N. Riepina | UAH 1,430 |
| Abdominal ultrasound with liver steatometry by N. Riepina | UAH 2,370 |
| Elastography of other organs during ultrasound (breast, thyroid, lymph nodes) | UAH 1,165 |
| Elastography of other organs by N. Riepina | UAH 1,170 |
Prices are taken from the clinic price list as of 01.10.2026 and may change. Please check the current cost with our call centre.
Why choose Oberig Clinic
- An elastography expert. Nataliia Riepina is an Honoured Doctor of Ukraine and an EFSUMB member. She trained at the European Elastography Centre and at a European school of multiparametric liver ultrasound.
- An expert-class scanner. ACUSON Sequoia (Siemens) with shear wave elastography and fat measurement. Our ultrasound doctors hold European ultrasound certificates.
- Results read in context. The doctor weighs your height, weight, age, diabetes and inflammation, not just the kPa number.
- Treatment nearby. The Gastro Centre, the lab, liver MRI and the Liver Surgery Centre all work in one clinic.
Address: 3 Zoolohichna St, buildings "G" and "V", Kyiv. Book online at https://my.oberig.ua/ua/appointment/ or call +38 044 521 30 03.
