Nuclear Medicine Scan of Hepatic - Hida Scan Item 3

What Is This Hepatic HIDA Scan (Item 3)?

This is a targeted nuclear medicine imaging test designed specifically to assess the liver, gallbladder, and biliary tree, the system of ducts that transports bile from the liver to the small intestine to support digestion. Unlike other imaging tests, this Item 3 variant of the HIDA scan focuses on functional performance of these hepatic structures, allowing your care team to identify issues that may be causing gastrointestinal symptoms or impacting bile-related digestive processes. The test uses a very small, safe dose of radioactive tracer that is absorbed by liver cells and excreted into bile, making these structures visible to the imaging camera.

How the Procedure Is Performed

A member of your care team will inject a small amount of the radioactive tracer into a vein in your arm, usually in the hand or forearm. You will then lie flat on an imaging table while a specialized gamma camera positioned above your abdomen takes pictures of the tracer as it moves through your liver, into your gallbladder, and through the biliary tree over the 10-minute scan duration. The camera does not enclose your body, so there is no risk of claustrophobia during the exam, and no contrast dye is used at any point.

Gastrointestinal Clinical Applications

This HIDA scan is used to diagnose and evaluate a range of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary conditions, including unexplained right upper abdominal pain, gallbladder inflammation (acute cholecystitis), gallstones or other blockages in the gallbladder or bile ducts, bile leaks following surgery, abdominal injury, or liver disease, and impaired bile production or excretion that impacts normal digestion. It is often ordered when other imaging tests like ultrasound have not provided clear answers about the cause of biliary or gastrointestinal symptoms.

Preparation and What to Expect

No special preparation is required for this exam, and you can eat and drink normally unless your provider gives you specific instructions to the contrary. You will need to lie still for the full 10-minute scan to ensure clear, accurate images are captured; the scan itself is painless, though you may feel a brief pinch when the tracer is injected. The small amount of radiation from the tracer is considered safe for most patients, and you can resume all normal activities immediately after the scan is complete.