HIDA scan

HIDA (hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid) nuclear medicine scan

- IV iminodiacetic acid derivative is taken up by hepatocytes and excreted into bile with concentration in the gallbladder. A series of images are taken visualizing the pathway of bile excretion.
- Used to diagnose obstruction (secondary to cholecystitis or cystic duct obstruction), gall bladder perforation, or congenital abnormalities in the bile ducts
- Normal study: gallbladder visualization within an hour
Abnormal: failure to visualize the gallbladder within 4 hours or leakage into the pericholecystic space
- False positives: severe liver disease causing abnormal HIDA uptake, TPN patients with an already distended gallbladder, biliary sphincterotomy causing decreased filling of the gallbladder