HIDA Scan Test – Healthnile.com

Overview

A HIDA scan, also known as hepatobiliary system imaging, checks how well the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts are working. In this test, a healthcare provider introduces a small amount of radioactive tracer into a vein. The liver collects the tracer, which then moves with bile into the gallbladder and through the bile ducts to the small intestine.

Steps Involved in the Scan:

A healthcare provider injects the tracer into a vein.
Liver cells absorb the tracer.
The tracer moves through the gallbladder and bile ducts.
A gamma camera tracks its movement.

This imaging shows if bile flows properly and can detect blockages or other issues in the hepatobiliary system.

Reasons for the Test

Doctors often order a HIDA scan when someone has right upper belly pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, or other signs of gallbladder disease.

Common Reason

Checking for gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis).
Identifying bile duct blockages.
Detecting gallstones (cholelithiasis).
Diagnosing chronic gallbladder conditions (e.g., chronic cholecystitis).
Evaluating abnormal gallbladder movement (biliary dyskinesia, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction).

The scan is also used to assess unexplained biliary symptoms or monitor bile flow after a liver transplant. In some cases, cholecystokinin (CCK) is given during the scan to test gallbladder emptying.

Possible Complications

A HIDA scan is generally safe. Some people may have a mild allergic reaction to the radioactive tracer or experience bruising or discomfort at the injection site. The scan uses a small amount of radiation. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should discuss potential risks with their provider. Rarely, bile leaks may be identified.

Steps to Get Ready

What to Eat and Which Medicines to Take

Most people should not eat for about four hours before the test.
Clear drinks like water may be allowed, but check with the healthcare provider.
Some medications and supplements might need to be stopped.
Follow all instructions from the healthcare team.

Clothes and Belongings

Patients usually need to wear a hospital gown for the scan.
Leave jewelry and items made of metal at home or take them off before the test.
Keeping valuables at home helps prevent loss.

What You Can Expect

Steps During Imaging

A special camera called a gamma camera is placed over the belly to take pictures as the tracer moves through the body. This part of the test may take about an hour. Patients should stay as still as possible during the pictures.

The care team may give an intravenous medicine such as a gallbladder stimulant (like a cholecystokinin analog), which causes the gallbladder to contract and helps with clearer images. In some cases, they use an opioid analgesic to help the gallbladder stand out more clearly.

The radiologist watches the images on a computer as the test goes on. If the team sees anything unclear or needs better pictures, they may schedule more scans within 24 hours.

What Happens After

You can resume normal activities immediately. The tracer exits the body through urine or stool, usually within a day or two. Drinking extra fluids helps flush it out. No special diet is required unless otherwise instructed.

What the HIDA Scan Can Reveal

A HIDA scan can provide several important findings about the function of the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts.

Finding	What It Means
Normal movement	Tracer moves freely into the gallbladder and small intestine.
Slowed movement	May mean a blockage or a problem with the liver.
No tracer in gallbladder	Can suggest acute inflammation (acute cholecystitis).
Low ejection fraction	Indicates a low amount of tracer exits the gallbladder; may signal chronic cholecystitis.
Tracer found outside of the bile system	Might point to a leak.

When the tracer does not appear in the gallbladder (nonvisualization), it often signals inflammation. A low ejection fraction can reveal longer-term gallbladder dysfunction. Healthcare providers review and explain the results, and guide the next steps accordingly.