Liver Elastography

What is Liver Elastography?

Liver elastography is a non-invasive ultrasound technique used to measure liver stiffness — a key indicator in diagnosing and monitoring liver conditions like fibrosis, cirrhosis, and chronic hepatitis. Jefferson Radiology uses advanced Philips ElastQ Imaging, the latest in shear wave elastography, which offers real-time feedback, increased diagnostic confidence, and superior accuracy over older elastography technologies.

Who is Recommended for a Liver Elastography?

Ideal for patients with:

Chronic hepatitis B or C
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD/NASH)
Elevated liver enzymes
History of alcohol-related liver damage
Risk of cirrhosis

Liver elastography is valuable for baseline assessment, ongoing monitoring, and treatment planning

Need to Know

Your appointment may take approximately 30 minutes
You may be instructed to fast for 6-8 hours prior to the exam
Wear loose, comfortable clothing and remove any jewelry prior to the appointment

Nice to Know

The exam is non-invasive and radiation-free
There are no known side effects with liver ultrasound exams
Our experienced and caring sonographers who will be performing your exam are specifically accredited in ultrasound, and have been trained on our state of the art equipment

Advanced Technology: Philips ElastQ Imaging

At Jefferson Radiology, we use Philips ElastQ Imaging — a next-generation shear wave elastography technology — to ensure the highest level of accuracy and comfort during your liver assessment. This advanced ultrasound technique offers:

Real-time, color-coded stiffness and confidence maps that help our radiologists identify problem areas with precision and clarity
A larger, adjustable Region of Interest (ROI) to measure more liver tissue in a single scan — reducing time and improving consistency
Reliable imaging across all body types, including individuals where traditional ultrasound methods may not provide optimal clarity
A non-invasive alternative to liver biopsy for many patients, allowing us to monitor liver health safely and comfortably over time

Frequently Asked Questions

Liver elastography is a non-invasive imaging exam that measures the stiffness of your liver. It helps detect and monitor conditions such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and liver disease — providing a low-risk alternative to liver biopsies for some patients.

Liver elastography is performed to evaluate liver stiffness, which helps your doctor detect and monitor conditions such as:

Liver fibrosis
Cirrhosis
Chronic hepatitis
Liver disease

This imaging exam is especially helpful for patients undergoing treatment for liver disease, allowing for ongoing monitoring without the need for invasive liver biopsies.

Liver elastography uses high-frequency ultrasound waves to measure the elasticity (stiffness) of liver tissue. The process involves:

A handheld probe (transducer) emitting sound waves into the liver
These waves generate shear waves that move through the tissue
The speed of the waves reflects how stiff or soft the tissue is
A color-coded map and quantitative analysis are produced in real time

This allows radiologists to assess the liver with high accuracy and reliability in real time.

Before the Exam

Fast for 6–8 hours prior to your appointment (unless otherwise directed).
Wear loose-fitting clothing and remove any jewelry or accessories.
You may be asked to change into a gown.

During the Exam

You’ll lie on an exam table.
A warm, water-based gel will be applied to your skin.
A technologist will move the transducer over your abdomen.
You will be asked to hold your breath for up to 6 seconds while images and videos are captured.
This process is repeated several times to gather accurate data.

After the Exam

The gel will be wiped off.
There is no recovery time needed — you can return to normal activities right away.
Your results will be reviewed by a board-certified radiologist and sent to your referring provider.

BENEFITS

Non-invasive
No radiation exposure
Can help monitor liver disease progression or treatment response
May reduce the need for liver biopsies
Provides real-time imaging for immediate analysis

RISKS

There are no known risks associated with ultrasound-based liver elastography
The procedure is considered safe for most patients, including children and pregnant individuals (with provider guidance)

We utilize Philips ElastQ Imaging — a next-generation shear wave technology — which offers enhanced accuracy through real-time confidence mapping and quantitative analysis. This means better data, faster results, and less need for repeat testing or biopsies.

How It Works

Shear wave elastography uses acoustic radiation force to generate shear waves in the liver. These waves move more slowly in healthy, elastic tissue and more rapidly through stiff, fibrotic areas. The imaging system measures this speed and converts it to a pressure value (kilopascals or kPa) to assess liver stiffness.

Locations

Avon Imaging Center

100 Simsbury Road, Suite 101
Avon, CT 06001

Monday - Friday | 8:30am - 4:30pm
Weeknight appointments available for MRI
Hours Vary by Exam

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Bloomfield Imaging Center

6 Northwestern Drive, Suite 102
Bloomfield, CT 06002

Hours Vary By Exam
Monday - Friday | 8:30am - 4:30pm
Weeknight appointments available for MRI until 10pm

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Enfield Imaging Center

100 Hazard Avenue, Suite 100
Enfield, CT 06082

Monday - Friday | 8:30am - 5:00pm
Weeknight appointments available for MRI
Weekend appointments available for Mammography, MRI and Bone Densiy
Hours Vary by Exam

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Farmington Imaging Center

399 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06032

Monday - Friday | 8:00am - 4:15pm
Weeknight and weekend appointments available for MRI
Weeknight appointments available for Mammography
Hours vary by exam

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Glastonbury Imaging Center

704 Hebron Avenue, Suite 100 (Access to building off Oakwood Drive)
Glastonbury, CT 06033

Monday - Friday | 8:30am - 4:30pm
Weeknight appointments available for Mammography, CT, and MRI
Hours vary by exam

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Hartford Imaging Center

85 Seymour Street, Suite 200
Hartford, CT 06106

Monday - Friday | 8:00am - 4:00pm
Hours Vary by Exam

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West Hartford Imaging Center

941 Farmington Ave
West Hartford, CT 06107

Monday - Friday | 8:00am - 4:00pm
Weekend appointments available for Ultrasound, Mammo and MRI
Weeknight appointments available for MRI & Mammography
Hours vary by exam

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Wethersfield Imaging Center

1260 Silas Deane Highway
(Suite 100: CT & MRI | Suite 104: All Other Exams)
Wethersfield, CT 06109

Monday - Friday | 8:30am - 4:30pm
Weekend appointments available for mammography
Weeknight appointments available for Mammography and MRI
Hours vary by exam.

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What is Liver Elastography?

Who is Recommended for a Liver Elastography?

Need to Know

Nice to Know

Advanced Technology: Philips ElastQ Imaging

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Liver Elastography ultrasound?

Why is a Liver Elastography exam performed?

How does a Liver Elastography exam work?

What will happen before, during and after the Liver Elastography exam?

How should I prepare for a Liver Elastography exam?

What Are the Benefits and Risks of a Liver Elastography exam?

BENEFITS

RISKS

What makes Jefferson Radiology’s Liver Elastography different?

Locations

Avon Imaging Center

Bloomfield Imaging Center

Enfield Imaging Center

Farmington Imaging Center

Glastonbury Imaging Center

Hartford Imaging Center

West Hartford Imaging Center

Wethersfield Imaging Center

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