HIDA Scan
Cholescintigraphy for gallbladder function and obstruction.
What is HIDA?
How it works:
Advantages
Limitations
Preparation Checklist
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⚖️HIDA vs Ultrasound
| Criteria | HIDA | Ultrasound |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Moderate | Moderate |
| Radiation | No | Yes |
| Soft Tissue Detail | Limited | Limited |
| Cost | High | Low |
Related Imaging Modalities
Abdominal ultrasound is usually performed first to visualize gallstones and rule out acute cholecystitis. CT provides additional anatomic detail when needed.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses sound waves to create real-time images. Commonly used for pregnancy monitoring and examining organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys.
CT
CT scans use X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body. They are particularly useful for detecting bone fractures, tumors, and internal bleeding.
Browse HIDA Terms
Explore common terms in HIDA reports, each with detailed explanations, clinical significance, and related lab tests to help you understand your imaging results. lab tests.
Acute Cholecystitis HIDA Scan: What It Shows, Cost & Prepara
Normal hepatic uptake and biliary duct visualization with absent gallbladder filling indicates cystic duct obstruction, the hallmark of acute cholecystitis. Morphine augmentation can improve diagnostic accuracy. Rim sign (increased rim activity around gallbladder fossa) suggests gangrenous cholecystitis.
Bile Leak HIDA Scan: What It Shows, Cost & Preparation
Radiotracer accumulation outside the normal biliary tree and bowel. Free tracer in the peritoneal cavity or subhepatic space indicates bile leak. Leak may appear as a focal collection or diffuse spreading activity. Continuous accumulation over time confirms active leak.
Biliary Obstruction HIDA Scan: What It Shows, Cost & Prepara
Delayed or absent radiotracer passage into small bowel indicates obstruction. Dilated bile ducts may be seen. Common bile duct obstruction shows hepatic uptake and biliary duct visualization with no intestinal activity. Gallbladder may or may not visualize depending on obstruction level.
Biliary Dyskinesia HIDA Scan: What It Shows, Cost & Preparat
Normal gallbladder visualization with reduced ejection fraction (<35-40%) after cholecystokinin (CCK) stimulation. Biliary-to-bowel transit may be delayed. No structural obstruction present. The gallbladder contracts poorly in response to hormonal stimulation, indicating functional impairment.
Post-Cholecystectomy Syndrome HIDA Scan: What It Shows, Cost
Variable findings depending on underlying cause: delayed biliary-to-bowel transit (>60 minutes) suggests sphincter of Oddi dysfunction; tracer extravasation indicates bile leak; delayed or absent intestinal visualization suggests retained stones or stricture; abnormal flow patterns in biliary-enteric anastomoses.
Biliary Leak Post-Surgery HIDA Scan: What It Shows, Cost & P
Radiotracer accumulation outside the normal biliary tree indicates bile leak. Common locations include subhepatic space (gallbladder fossa), periportal region, and free peritoneal cavity. Progressive accumulation over serial imaging confirms active leak. Focal collection suggests contained leak (biloma); diffuse activity indicates free perforation.
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