What is a hida scan?

HIDA scan: Is a nuclear medicine test that evaluates the gallbladder, bile ducts, and liver. Pictures are taken after a special dye is injected into a vein. The patient may be given a fatty meal.

Hepatobiliary study: Patient is injected intravenously with isotope tagged to chemical hida that is extracted preferentially by liver cells mimicking bile. Some of this is stored in gall bladder and some enters small bowel from common bile duct. Cholecystokinin is a natural hormone slowly injected intravenously to stimulate gall bladder contraction. Normal function has at least 50% emptying of gall bladder.