(Cholescintigraphy, Liver-Biliary Scan, Hepatobiliary
Iminodiacetic Acid [HIDA], Gallbladder Radionuclide Scan) What
is a gallbladder scan? A gallbladder scan is a specialized
radiology procedure used to assess the function and structure of
the gallbladder. This procedure may also be referred to as a
liver-biliary scan because the liver often is examined as well
due to its proximity and close functional relationship to the
gallbladder. A gallbladder scan is a type of nuclear radiology
procedure. This means that a tiny amount of a radioactive
substance is used during the procedure to assist in the
examination of the gallbladder. The radioactive substance,
called a radionuclide (radiopharmaceutical or radioactive
tracer), is absorbed by normal gallbladder tissue. The
radionuclide used in gallbladder scans is usually a form of
technetium. Once absorbed into the gallbladder tissue, the
radionuclide emits a type of radiation, called gamma radiation.
The gamma radiation is detected by a scanner, which processes
the