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HIDA Scan
Introduction
A hepatobiliary, or HIDA, scan is an imaging procedure. It is used to diagnose
problems in the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts.
This reference summary explains HIDA scans. It
discusses the reasons the test is done and what to
expect before, during and after the procedure.
The Digestive System
The digestive system helps the body digest and
absorb the food we eat. This section explains the
anatomy of the digestive system. It will help you
understand problems that may affect the digestive system.
Swallowed food goes through the esophagus and enters the stomach, where it is
partially digested. Partially digested food goes from the stomach to the small intestines.
Nutrients are further digested and absorbed there. Fibers and digested food finally
reach the colon. The colon absorbs water and is a storage area for stool.
The liver, gallbladder and pancreas make juices to help digestion. Bile is a fluid made
by your liver. It helps your digestive system break down fats in the foods you eat. Bile
is stored in your gallbladder. The gallbladder releases the bile when you eat a meal.
HIDA Scan
A HIDA scan is most often done to evaluate your gallbladder. It is also used to look at
the way your liver makes bile. It tracks the flow of bile from your liver into your small
intestine. A safe, radioactive chemical, or tracer, called iminodiacetic acid is injected
into a vein in your arm. The liver handles the tracer as if it were bile.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2015, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 01/27/2015
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A special nuclear medicine scanner then tracks the flow of the tracer from your liver
into your gallbladder and small intestine. The scanner is
called a gamma camera.
A HIDA scan may help in the diagnosis of several
diseases and conditions. These include:
• Gallbladder inflammation, or cholecystitis.
• Bile duct obstruction.
• Abnormalities in the bile ducts, such as biliary
atresia.
• Postoperative complications, such as bile leaks and
fistulas.
Biliary atresia is a life threatening condition in infants in which the bile ducts inside or
outside the liver do not have normal openings. Bile becomes trapped, builds up and
damages the liver. A fistula is an abnormal connection between two different tissues
inside of the body.
A HIDA scan may be done to see if you need a liver transplant. The scan can also be
used as part of a test to measure the rate in which bile is released from your
gallbladder.
Before the Procedure
Your health care provider may give you specific instructions on how to prepare for your
HIDA scan. You may need to fast for a minimum of 4 hours
before your HIDA scan. You may be able to drink clear liquids.
Certain medications may interfere with your HIDA scan. Tell
your health care provider about any medications you are taking.
He or she may ask that you delay taking your medications on
the day of your scan. Certain medications may make it easier
for the nuclear radiologist to interpret the results of your HIDA
scan. Whether you will need these medications depends on the
reason for your scan.
You may receive an infusion or injection of a medication along with the injected
radioactive tracer.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2015, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 01/27/2015
rd240101
2
The medications may be injected right before or during your HIDA scan. In rare
instances, you may be asked to start taking a medication a few days before your scan.
During the Procedure
You may be asked to change into a hospital gown before your HIDA
scan begins.
Your health care team will position you on a table, usually on your
back. The tracer will then be injected into a vein in your arm. You
may feel some pressure while the tracer is injected. The tracer
travels through your bloodstream to your liver. There, it is taken up
by cells that make bile. The radioactive tracer travels with the bile
from your liver into your gallbladder. It goes through your bile ducts
to your small intestine.
As you lie on the table, a special gamma camera is positioned over your abdomen. It
will take pictures of the tracer as it moves through your body. The gamma camera
takes pictures continually for about an hour. You will need to stay still during the HIDA
scan. This can become uncomfortable. You may
find that you can lessen the discomfort by taking
deep breaths and thinking about other things. Tell
your health care team if you are uncomfortable.
A radiologist will use a computer to watch the
progress of the radioactive tracer through your body.
The HIDA scan may be stopped when the
radioactive tracer is seen in the gallbladder and
enters your small intestine. This typically takes
about an hour.
In some cases, extra imaging will be performed if:
• The original images are not satisfactory.
• Other medications are given to help visualize or look at the contraction of the
gallbladder.
This test usually takes about 2 hours. In most cases you can return to your normal
activities after your HIDA scan. You may still have some of the radioactive tracer in
your body. The radioactive tracer will leave your body through your urine over the next
day. You may be told to drink extra fluids to help your body get rid of the tracer.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2015, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 01/27/2015
rd240101
3
Risks and Complications
A HIDA scan carries few risks. Complications are not likely. But it is
important to know about them. You may be able to help your health care
provider detect potential problems.
HIDA scan risks may include:
• Allergic reaction to medications that contain radioactive tracers
used for the scan.
• Bruising at the injection site.
• Rash.
Tell your health care provider if there is a chance you could be pregnant or if you are
breast-feeding. The HIDA scan is not usually performed on pregnant women because
of potential harm to the fetus.
The amount of radioactive tracer injected into your arm during a HIDA scan is small.
The radioactive tracer gives off radiation for several hours and then becomes inactive.
The gamma camera that takes images during a HIDA scan
does not give off any radiation.
Test Results
In HIDA scan images viewed on a computer monitor, the
tracer appears as regions of dark color on a lighter
background. The darker the color in a given area, the greater
the amount of radioactive tracer. The movement of this dark
color may show that the radioactive tracer was able to move
freely through your liver, bile ducts and gallbladder and into
the small intestine. This means that no problems were found.
If the radioactive tracer is missing from certain areas on a scan, it may indicate a
blockage or other problem. It could mean a problem in liver function. If the radioactive
tracer is not seen in your gallbladder, this may indicate inflammation or swelling of the
gallbladder.
If the radioactive tracer is found outside of your biliary system, this may indicate a leak.
Your health care provider will discuss your specific results with you.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2015, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 01/27/2015
rd240101
4
HIDA scans usually cannot diagnose a problem. To diagnose a specific condition, your
health care provider will consider the results of your scan with:
• Your signs and symptoms.
• Other imaging scans.
• Other test results.
Summary
A hepatobiliary, or HIDA, scan is an imaging procedure. It is most often done to
evaluate your gallbladder. It is also used to look at the way your liver makes bile. A
HIDA scan tracks the flow of bile from your liver into your small intestine. For a HIDA
scan, a safe amount of a radioactive chemical, or tracer, is injected into a vein in your
arm. The liver handles the tracer as if it were bile. A
special nuclear medicine scanner then tracks the flow of
the tracer from your liver into your gallbladder and small
intestine. The scanner is called a gamma camera.
Your health care team will position you on a table,
usually on your back. The tracer will then be injected
into a vein. You may feel some pressure while the tracer
is injected. As you lie on the table, a special gamma
camera is positioned over your abdomen. It will take
pictures of the tracer as it moves through your body. The gamma camera takes
pictures continually for about an hour.
HIDA scan risks may include:
• Allergic reaction to medications that contain radioactive tracers used for the scan.
• Bruising at the injection site.
• Rash.
HIDA scans usually cannot diagnose a problem. To diagnose a specific condition, your
health care provider will consider the results of your scan with:
• Your signs and symptoms.
• Other imaging scans.
• Other test results.
A HIDA scan carries few risks. But it is important to know about them. You may be able
to help your health care provider detect potential problems.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2015, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 01/27/2015
rd240101
5