What can a hida scan find that an ultrasound cannot find? aren't there multiple things other than gallbladder dysfunction? ultrasound was normal.

A lot.: After the tracer is injected into a vein, it must circulate to the liver. The liver must remove it from the blood and put it into the bile, liver circulation and function assured. The tracer, now in the bile, travels through the bile system and into the gall bladder, checking patency of these. A gall bladder stimulant can be used to measure gall bladder function and ejection out into bowel.

US vs. HIDA: Us is a form of anatomical imaging. Hida is more of a functional imaging. Us can show anatomic signs of cystic duct obstruction. Often physicians look for gallbladder wall thickening or pericholecystic fluid on us. On hida, physicians look to see if tracer enters the gallbladder lumen or bowel to rule out cystic duct or common duct obstruction. Hida can also give gallbladder ejection fraction.

Anatomic vs function: Ultrasound is anatomic test looking for stones, sludge, or gb wall thickening. HIDA scan is physiologic looking at function of gb.HIDA sees response of gb to cholecystokinin or fatty meals.Sometimes patient experiences similar symptoms to gb attack.