A Hida Scan (hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan) is a nuclear medicine imaging test that visualizes the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and part of the small intestine using a radioactive tracer.

How should I prepare for a Hida Scan?

Typically you’ll fast for about four hours before the exam, inform your provider about medications, pregnancy, or breastfeeding, and remove jewelry or metal before the scan.

How long does a Hida Scan take?

Most Hida Scans take about one to one-and-a-half hours, though some studies can be as short as 30 minutes or extend to several hours depending on tracer movement.

Are there any risks or side effects of a Hida Scan?

Risks are minimal and may include allergic reaction to the tracer, bruising at the IV site, and exposure to a small amount of radiation. Notify your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

What can a Hida Scan diagnose?

A Hida Scan can help diagnose acute or chronic cholecystitis, bile duct obstruction or leaks, congenital biliary disorders, and assess transplanted liver function and gallbladder ejection fraction.

What Is a HIDA Scan?

Published by

Lyly

July 18, 2026

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A hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan, commonly called a HIDA scan, is an imaging exam used to visualize organs such as the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and portions of the small intestine.

A HIDA, or hepatobiliary, scan is a diagnostic imaging procedure. It’s used to obtain pictures of the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and small intestine to help identify medical issues affecting those organs. Bile is a fluid that aids in the digestion of fats.

<p>This image presents a stylized, semi-transparent anatomical illustration of the human torso, focusing on the internal organs. The figure is depicted with a bluish skin tone, creating a ghostly or x-ray effect, allowing the organs within to be visible. Prominently featured is the liver, rendered in shades of reddish-brown and positioned centrally in the upper abdomen. Below the liver is the stomach, appearing pale pink and slightly elongated. Further down, the small and large intestines are intricately detailed with a coiled, reddish-pink structure, showcasing their complex arrangement. Above the liver and stomach, the lungs are visible as translucent, reddish-brown structures, flanking the heart, which is a darker, more saturated red. The kidneys are also faintly visible on either side of the spine. A small, green, gallbladder is attached to the underside of the liver. The overall effect is a medical illustration intended to visualize the location and relative size of key organs within the human body. The transparency allows for a layered view, demonstrating the spatial relationships between the different systems. The image is likely used for educational purposes, such as in medical textbooks or presentations, to help understand human anatomy.</p>” style=”display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-radius: 5px; max-width: 80%; height: auto;” loading=”lazy”/><figcaption>(<em>img by Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital</em>)</figcaption></figure><p>This test is also referred to as cholescintigraphy or hepatobiliary scintigraphy. It may be performed as part of a gallbladder ejection fraction study, which measures how quickly bile is expelled from your gallbladder. HIDA scans are frequently used in conjunction with X-rays and ultrasound imaging.</p><div style=

Conditions a HIDA scan can help diagnose

HIDA scans assist in diagnosing a range of conditions, including:

inflammation of the gallbladder, known as cholecystitis
obstructions of the bile ducts
congenital bile duct disorders, for example biliary atresia, a rare condition seen in infants
postoperative complications, such as bile leaks and fistulas, which are abnormal connections between organs

<p>This image presents a series of eight nuclear medicine scans, likely a hepatobiliary scan (HIDA scan) performed on January 15, 2019. Each scan is labeled with a time point, starting from ‘ANT 2 MIN’ and progressing to ‘LAO 2 HRS,’ indicating the time elapsed after the injection of a radiotracer, Disofenin, with a dose of 4 mCi. The scans are labeled with ‘ANT’ (anterior) or ‘LAO’ (left anterior oblique) views, specifying the angle from which the image was captured. The initial scans (2, 5, and 10 minutes) show a diffuse uptake of the tracer in the liver, appearing as a relatively homogenous bright area. As time progresses (15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes), the tracer begins to fill the biliary tree, visualized as increasingly distinct, branching structures within the liver. The 5-minute scan includes a marker, possibly a calibration source. The final scan, ‘LAO 2 HRS,’ demonstrates the tracer emptying from the gallbladder into the small bowel, appearing as a bright area inferior to the liver. The overall progression of tracer movement suggests a functional hepatobiliary system, with the tracer being excreted appropriately. The images are grayscale, with brighter areas indicating higher concentrations of the radiotracer. The quality of the images appears adequate for diagnostic interpretation, though some minor artifacts or noise are present.</p>” style=”display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-radius: 5px; max-width: 80%; height: auto;” loading=”lazy”/><figcaption>(<em>img by Gastroenterol Res</em>)</figcaption></figure><p>HIDA scans can also be used to assess a transplanted liver. These scans may be scheduled at intervals to confirm the transplanted organ is functioning properly.</p><h2><span class=

<p>The image presents a comparative visualization of Hepatobiliary Iminodiacetic Acid (HIDA) scans, used to assess gallbladder and biliary duct function. It showcases two examples, labeled ‘Example 1: EGR’ and ‘Example 2: EGR (had previous cholecystectomy)’. Each example displays a series of five sequential images taken over time, presumably representing the progression of the radiotracer through the biliary system. The scans are grayscale, depicting the liver, gallbladder (when present), and biliary ducts. In Example 1, the gallbladder is visible and appears to fill normally in the initial frames. However, the final image in this example has a red arrow pointing to a region suggesting a potential issue with gallbladder emptying or a filling defect within the gallbladder itself. Example 2 demonstrates scans from a patient who has previously undergone a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal). Consequently, no gallbladder is present. The red arrow in the first image of Example 2 points to the cystic duct stump, indicating tracer leakage. Subsequent images show the tracer moving through the common bile duct and into the intestines. The bottom of the image includes text describing the normal progression of the HIDA scan, noting that the gallbladder should fill within 60 minutes and empty within 40 minutes after CCK stimulation. It also details the expected flow of the tracer from the liver, through the biliary ducts, and ultimately into the duodenum. The image serves as a visual aid for understanding normal and abnormal HIDA scan findings.</p>” style=”display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-radius: 5px; max-width: 80%; height: auto;” loading=”lazy”/><figcaption>(<em>img by EPOS™ – European Society of Radiology</em>)</figcaption></figure><p>After the HIDA scan</p><p>Most patients can resume normal activities after a HIDA scan. Small amounts of the injected radioactive tracer will leave your body in urine and stool over the next few days. Drinking plenty of fluids can help flush the tracer from your system more quickly.</p><div class=

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for any health concerns.

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Results	What the scan indicates
Normal	The radioactive tracer moved normally with bile from the liver into the gallbladder and onward into the small intestine.
Slow	The tracer progressed more slowly than expected. This could suggest a blockage or a liver dysfunction.
Not present	If the gallbladder shows no tracer uptake on images, this may indicate acute inflammation of the gallbladder (acute cholecystitis).
Low gallbladder ejection fraction	If only a small amount of tracer is expelled from the gallbladder after CCK stimulation, it may point to chronic gallbladder inflammation (chronic cholecystitis).
Tracer detected elsewhere in the body	If tracer appears outside the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and small intestine, it could indicate a leak in the biliary system.