About HIDA Scan
Key Highlights
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Provides functional assessment of the gallbladder, liver, and biliary system.Non-invasive and typically painless, involving only an intravenous injection.Helps diagnose the cause of unexplained abdominal pain, especially in the right upper quadrant.Can identify bile duct obstructions, leaks, and gallbladder ejection fraction.Often more accurate than ultrasound for diagnosing acute cholecystitis or biliary dyskinesia.Outpatient procedure with no surgical incisions required./ul
Who is this surgery for?
- Evaluation of right upper quadrant abdominal pain, especially if gallstones are suspected.
- Diagnosis of acute or chronic cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation).
- Suspected biliary dyskinesia (poor gallbladder contraction and emptying).
- Detection of bile leaks following surgery or trauma.
- Assessment of bile duct obstruction or patency.
- Evaluation of congenital biliary abnormalities.
- Assessment of liver transplant biliary complications.
- Unexplained nausea, vomiting, or jaundice.
How to prepare
- Fasting is usually required for 4 to 6 hours before the scan to ensure the gallbladder is full and ready to contract.
- Inform your doctor about all medications, especially narcotics, as some may interfere with gallbladder function.
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing without metal zippers or fasteners near the abdomen.
- Inform the technologist if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have any allergies.
- You may be asked to sign a consent form after the procedure is explained.
- Arrive on time, as the procedure involves precise timing for imaging.
Risks & possible complications
- Minimal radiation exposure, comparable to other diagnostic X-ray procedures.
- Rare allergic reaction to the radioactive tracer (extremely uncommon).
- Minor discomfort, bruising, or bleeding at the injection site.
- False-positive or false-negative results are possible, though uncommon.
- There is a very small risk of infection from the IV line insertion.
- No significant long-term side effects are associated with the tracer.
Recovery & hospital stay
- You can typically resume normal activities, including driving, immediately after the scan.
- Drink plenty of water to help flush the radioactive tracer from your body.
- No special dietary restrictions are required post-procedure.
- The radioactive material decays and is eliminated from the body within 24 hours.
- Results are analyzed by a nuclear medicine physician and reported to your referring doctor, usually within 1-2 days.
- Follow up with your doctor to discuss the scan results and any necessary next steps.
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Typical hospital stay: 0 days (outpatient)
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Expected recovery time: 0 days (immediate)
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering hida scan in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in India with nuclear medicine departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform hida scan. MediFyr helps you compare nuclear medicines and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for hida scan compare across other countries where we have data.
Priya Gupta, a 42-year-old software engineer...
Priya Gupta, a 42-year-old software engineer and mother of two, had been experiencing intermittent, sharp pain in her upper right abdomen for nearly a year. The pain, often worse after eating fatty foods like her favorite butter chicken, would sometimes radiate to her back. She had tried dietary changes and over-the-counter antacids with little relief. Her primary care physician, suspecting gallbladder dysfunction, referred her to a gastroenterologist. The specialist, after an ultrasound showed no gallstones, recommended a HIDA scan to measure her gallbladder's ejection fraction. Priya was nervous about the 'nuclear' aspect but was reassured it was a low-radiation, standard test. During the scan, she lay still on the table as the tracer was injected; the most challenging part was the four-hour wait. The scan revealed a low ejection fraction of 18%, confirming biliary dyskinesia. A follow-up consultation with a surgeon was scheduled. Priya felt a profound mix of validation and anxiety, finally, an answer, but now facing potential surgery. The clear diagnosis, however, replaced her long-standing frustration with a focused path forward.
Nuclear Medicines for HIDA Scan
Explore experienced nuclear medicines who regularly perform hida scan and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 11 Years Experience
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Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Hyderabad
- 27 Years Experience
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- 26 Years Experience
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Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 25 Years Experience
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Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 9 Years Experience
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Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 28 Years Experience
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Artemis Hospital Gurgaon, Gurgaon
- 13 Years Experience
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Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 14 Years Experience
- Nuclear Medicine
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 16 Years Experience
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- 13 Years Experience
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Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, Kolkata
- 6 Years Experience
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Artemis Hospital Gurgaon, Gurgaon