Why it's done

A HIDA scan is most often done to evaluate your gallbladder. It's also used to look at the bile-excreting function of your liver and to track the flow of bile from your liver into your small intestine. A HIDA scan is often used with X-ray and ultrasound.

A HIDA scan might help in the diagnosis of several diseases and conditions, such as:

• Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis)
• Bile duct obstruction
• Congenital abnormalities in the bile ducts, such as biliary atresia
• Postoperative complications, such as bile leaks and fistulas
• Assessment of liver transplant

Your doctor might use a HIDA scan as part of a test to measure the rate at which bile is released from your gallbladder (gallbladder ejection fraction).