Alternative to a HIDA scan?

Hello and thank you for posting your medical question on E health forum.

Here is a brief description, of HIDA scan and its importance.

HIDA scan of the gallbladder may be done when a gallbladder disorder is suspected but no gallstones are found by an ultrasonography.

When HIDA is injected into the blood, over time it is excreted by liver into the bile and distribution of the bile among gallbladder, cystic and common bile duct can be traced and recorded by radio-detective camera.

Then a hormone cholecystokinin (CCK), which causes gallbladder contraction, will be injected into your vein and another set of images will be made (this part of investigation is not always done) - As in your case.

Some important interpretations of the HIDA scan are as follows:

HIDA scan may reveal:

1. Stones in the gallbladder (gallbladder is not completely filled with the dye)

2. Obstruction in the cystic duct (dye does not enter the gallbladder at all)

3. Obstruction of the common bile duct (dye is not excreted into the duodenum)

4. Bile leakage, if there is a perforation in the gallbladder or bile ducts (dye outside of biliary system)

5. Biliary dyskinesia (improper painful contraction of the gallbladder containing no gallstones) may be detected by CCK-HIDA scan

You might consult your gastroenterologist, and put forward your concerns and he might provide proper answers and decide on the next appropriate step.