From the Guidelines
A hepatobiliary scan is also commonly known as a HIDA scan, which stands for Hepatobiliary Iminodiacetic Acid scan. This nuclear medicine imaging procedure evaluates the function of the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and the flow of bile. Other names for this procedure include cholescintigraphy, hepatobiliary scintigraphy, and gallbladder scan. According to the 2020 world society of emergency surgery updated guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute calculus cholecystitis 1, the HIDA scan has the highest sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of acute calculus cholecystitis (ACC) as compared to other imaging modalities.
- Key points about the HIDA scan include:
- Evaluates the function of the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and the flow of bile
- Used to diagnose conditions such as gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis), bile duct obstruction, bile leaks after surgery, and for assessing gallbladder emptying function
- Typically takes 1-4 hours to complete, depending on the specific diagnostic goals and how quickly the patient's liver processes the radioactive tracer
- Has the highest sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of ACC as compared to other imaging modalities, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 1
From the FDA Drug Label
Technetium Tc 99m Mebrofenin is indicated as a hepatobiliary imaging agent. The other name for a hepatobiliary scan is a hepatobiliary imaging agent 2.
From the Research
Hepatobiliary Scan Alternative Names
- Other names for a hepatobiliary scan include:
Key Points
- Tc99m-HIDA scintigraphy is an established technique that provides valuable functional information in the evaluation of hepatobiliary disease 3
- A HIDA scan is frequently used to exclude biliary atresia in infants who are cholestatic, but biliary excretion noted on the scan does not exclude the diagnosis of biliary atresia 4