Gallbladder radionuclide scan

The health care provider will inject a radioactive chemical called a gamma-emitting tracer into a vein. This material collects mostly in the liver. It will then flow with bile into the gallbladder and then through the common bile duct to the duodenum or small intestine. For the test: You lie face up on a table under a…

You need to eat something within a day of the test. However, you must stop eating or drinking 4 hours before the test starts.

You will feel a sharp prick from the needle when the tracer is injected into the vein. The site may be sore after the injection. There is normally no pain during the scan.

This test is very good for detecting a sudden infection of the gallbladder or blockage of a bile duct. It is also helpful in determining whether there is a complication of a transplanted liver or a leak after the gallbladder has been surgically removed. The test can also be used to detect long-term gallbladder…

Abnormal results may be due to: Abnormal anatomy of the bile system (biliary anomalies) Bile duct obstruction Bile leaks or abnormal ducts Cancer of the hepatobiliary system Gallbladder infection ( cholecystitis ) Gallstones Infection of the gallbladder, ducts, or liver Liver disease Transplant complication (after…

There is a small risk to pregnant or nursing mothers. Unless it is absolutely necessary, the scan will be delayed until you are no longer pregnant or nursing. The amount of radiation is small (less than that of a regular x-ray). It is almost all gone from the body within 1 or 2 days. Your risk from radiation may…

Most of the time, this test is done only if a person has abdominal pain that may be from gallbladder disease or gallstones. For this reason, some people may need urgent treatment based on the test results. This test is combined with other imaging (such as CT or ultrasound). After the gallbladder scan, the person may…

Grajo JR. Imaging of the liver. In: Sahani DV, Samir AE, eds. Abdominal Imaging. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 35. O'Malley JP, Ziessman HA, Thrall JH. Hepatic, biliary, and splenic scintigraphy. In: O'Malley JP, Ziessman HA, Thrall JH, eds. Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging: The Requisites. 5th…