Hepatobiliary Scan (HIDA)

What to bring

• Your referral form
• Any relevant previous imaging
• Your Medicare card and concession cards
• Your medication if you are diabetic

Preparation

• A referral from your doctor or medical specialist, and an appointment is required for this examination.
• You should have nothing to eat for eight hours before the time of your appointment but may drink small amounts of water. We need you to avoid fasting for too long, so be sure to have an evening meal on the day before a morning appointment. For an afternoon appointment, a light, early breakfast eight hours prior to the examination time is recommended.
• If you are a diabetic please discuss this with us before your appointment.
• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or caring for a small child on the appointment day, please notify us in advance to receive special instructions.

When you attend your appointment at Apex Radiology you will be asked to answer a few safety questions, remove any jewellery, watches etc, then change into an examination gown.

The technologist will explain the procedure, position you for the scan and then inject a radioactive tracer into an arm vein. Imaging starts immediately, and you may breathe normally but must try not move. Initial imaging takes 30-45 minutes while the tracer passes through the liver and into the gallbladder.

You will then be given a meal replacement drink (“Ensure Plus”) to stimulate the gallbladder. Several more images will be taken after a 30 minute, 60 minute and sometimes a 90 minute delay to show the rate at which the gallbladder empties.

The gamma camera is a large square radiation detector which sits close to the area being examined. In some cases it will rotate around you.

Nuclear medicine examinations are considered very safe with almost no reported adverse reactions attributable to the radiopharmaceuticals used in these examinations. Nuclear Medicine studies require very small doses of gamma radiation and are only performed where the benefits of the examination are deemed to outweigh any potential risks. At Apex Radiology you can be assured that using the latest technology and with staff trained in radiation reduction techniques, radiation doses are kept as low as reasonably possible.

If you are worried or concerned about having a Nuclear Medicine study you should discuss this with your referring doctor or medical specialist before coming for your examination. If you think you may be pregnant, please inform our Nuclear Medicine team before your examination.

For further information regarding radiation safety please visit: https://www.insideradiology.com.au/radiation-risk/

At Apex Radiology your stress test procedure will be carried out by a Nuclear Medicine Technologist who has a degree in Medical Radiation Science and is accredited by the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA). Your images will be reviewed along with your relevant medical history, and any other imaging, and be reported by our Nuclear Medicine credentialed radiologist or Nuclear Medicine physician (a medical doctor specialising in the interpretation of Nuclear Medicine studies).

The radioactive tracer will decay over time and the body will eliminate any residue through the kidneys and bowel and you are free to resume normal activities. If you are caring for a small child, or breastfeeding, we may ask you to take some minor precautions.

If your results are needed urgently, or you have an appointment straight after your scan with your referring doctor or health care provider, Apex Radiology will arrange to have your results available immediately. Otherwise your referring doctor or health care provider will receive your report within 72 hours of your examination.

Please ensure that you make a follow up appointment with your referring doctor or health care provider to discuss your results.