Velacur Liver Elastography

Get a Clearer Picture of Your Liver Health Without Surgery

If you've been diagnosed with fatty liver disease, hepatitis, MASH, or another liver condition, understanding the extent of liver damage is a critical part of your care. Velacur liver elastography is a fast, painless, and non-invasive procedure that gives our specialists a detailed look at the health of your liver without the need for a surgical biopsy. Our team uses this advanced technology to accurately assess liver stiffness and fat content, helping us catch fibrosis and other liver changes early so we can build the most effective treatment plan for you. Call today at 704-288-4045 to schedule your appointment.

What is Velacur Liver Elastography?

Velacur is an advanced liver elastography system used to non-invasively measure liver stiffness and fat content. Liver stiffness is a key indicator of fibrosis, the buildup of scar tissue that occurs when the liver is repeatedly damaged or inflamed. By measuring how sound waves travel through liver tissue, Velacur can detect fibrosis and fat accumulation at earlier stages than traditional imaging, giving your care team the information needed to monitor your liver health and guide treatment decisions.

What Conditions Can Velacur Detect?

Velacur liver elastography is used to evaluate a range of liver conditions, including:

• Metabolically-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as NAFLD
• MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis)
• Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis
• Alcoholic liver disease
• Chronic hepatitis B and C
• Other conditions causing chronic liver inflammation or scarring

Why Velacur Instead of a Liver Biopsy?

Traditionally, a liver biopsy was the only reliable way to assess the degree of liver fibrosis and fat accumulation. While biopsy remains the definitive diagnostic tool in some cases, it is invasive, carries risks, and can be uncomfortable for patients. Velacur liver elastography offers a safe, painless alternative that provides reliable results in minutes. It eliminates the need for needles, anesthesia, or recovery time, making it an ideal option for routine liver monitoring and early detection of liver changes.

What To Expect During the Procedure

Velacur liver elastography is a quick and comfortable outpatient procedure. Here is what you can expect:

• The procedure typically takes 10 to 15 minutes from start to finish.
• You will lie on your back with your right arm raised behind your head.
• A small probe is placed on the skin over your liver, similar to a standard ultrasound.
• The probe sends gentle sound waves through the liver tissue and measures how quickly they travel; stiffer tissue indicates more fibrosis.
• A controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) score is also captured to measure the amount of fat in the liver.
• The procedure is completely painless, requires no sedation, and you can return to normal activities immediately afterward.

How To Get Diagnosed

Our gastrointestinal specialists in Salisbury and Concord may recommend Velacur liver elastography as part of your diagnostic process, including:

• Routine liver health monitoring for patients with known liver conditions such as MASLD, MASH, or chronic hepatitis.
• Follow-up assessment for patients who have been treated for liver disease to track progress and response to treatment.
• Initial evaluation when blood tests or imaging suggest liver abnormalities that require further investigation.
• Ongoing screening for patients with significant risk factors for liver fibrosis, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, or heavy alcohol use.

Are There Any Risk Factors That Make Velacur Recommended?

Certain factors may lead your specialist to recommend Velacur liver elastography. These include:

• A diagnosis of MASLD, MASH, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Chronic hepatitis B or C infection
• Obesity or type 2 diabetes with suspected liver involvement
• Elevated liver enzymes (ALT, AST) on routine blood work
• A family history of liver disease or cirrhosis
• Long-term use of medications that can affect the liver
• Heavy or chronic alcohol use
• Previous abnormal liver imaging results

What Do the Results Mean?

Velacur provides two key measurements that help your specialist assess your liver health:

Liver Stiffness Score
Measures the degree of fibrosis present in the liver; a higher stiffness score indicates more advanced scarring, which your doctor will interpret alongside your full medical history and other test results.

Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) score
Measures the amount of fat present in the liver; elevated CAP scores indicate steatosis (fatty liver), which can range from mild to severe.

Your gastroenterologist will review your results with you and explain what they mean for your diagnosis, treatment plan, and ongoing monitoring schedule.