What is a HIDA scan?
The hepatobiliary (HIDA) scan is used to diagnose problems of the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts. This exam will show the function (ejection fraction) of your gallbladder.
You may need a HIDA scan if you are suspected of having any of the following:
- Abdominal pain
- Acute or chronic cholecystitis
- Epigastric pain
- RUQ pain
- Bile leak
- Post-surgical biliary tract obstruction
What are the risks of a HIDA scan?
The risk to other people is very low, so these scans are considered safe and effective ways to diagnose disease.
How does a HIDA scan work?
For those who have a functioning gallbaldder, a nuclear medicine technologist starts an IV in your arm. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into the IV. Once the radiotracer is injected, a special camera is used to take images of over your abdomen to track the flow of bile from your liver to your small intestine and to make sure the gallbladder is visualized, this scan will take about 45-60 minutes. Once the gallbladder is visualized, a synthetic hormone (Kinevac) is injected over 10 minutes, which will make your gallbladder contract and empty, images are continued for another 20 minutes.
In cases where the gallbladder is removed, a nuclear medicine technologist starts an IV in your arm. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into the IV. Once the radiotracer is injected, a special camera is used to take images of your abdomen to track the flow of bile from your liver to your small intestine this scan will take about 60 minutes.
What should I expect after my HIDA scan?
It usually take 24-48 hours for your doctor to receive a report. Drink plenty of fluids to help flush the radiotracer out of your body, what does not get flushed out of your body will decay out. There are no other restrictions.