You are right.
If someone is bridging from 3 to 4 then they are headed towards cirrhosis.
Also, we must remember that a biopsy only takes a tiny sliver of the liver and is not 100% accurate of the entire liver's condition.
So to assume there is some cirrhosis may be erring for the sake of caution.
Some tests actually stage from 1-6 but I'm not able to explain it to you.
( sorry, can't remember much today)
get a liver biopsy then you will know. best of luck to you
Follow the link it will explain fibrosis progression and staging, you are correct stage 4 is cirrhosis
I forgot the link (brain fog)
http://www.hawaii.edu/hivandaids/Fibrosis%20And%20Disease%20Progression%20In%20Hepatitis%20C.pdf
The link explains all scales used and their grading system, correction in most scales stage 4 is cirrhosis
Thank you Guys you are all great!
Often 3/4 is used as in three out of four, not between 3 and 4.
Yes, I guess it would be important to know if the doctor or the lab report said between f3 - f4, or if they said f3 out of 4 stages. So, my understanding is that f3 is bridging fibrosis with areas of scarring that are connected by scar tissue, and f4 is bridging fibrosis with increased areas of scarring that are connected by scar tissue and nodules. With f4 there is also an increased overall area of scarring throughout the liver. As OH said, a biopsy is only a small section, and it is up to the pathologist to determine if the slice is representative of the overall health of the liver.
Advocate1955
Thank you for the post and the explanations