Definition of Gallbladder radionuclide scan:

Gallbladder radionuclide scan is a test that uses radioactive material to check gallbladder function or to look for signs of an infection or bile duct obstruction.

How the test is performed:

The health care provider will inject a radioactive chemical called a gamma emitting tracer into a vein. This material will collect primarily in the liver and then flow with bile into the gallbladder.

You lie face up on a table under a scanner called a gamma camera. The scanner detects the rays being emitted from the tracer. A computer displays images of where the tracer is found in the organs.

Images will be taken every 5 - 15 minutes. The entire test takes about 1 hour.

If, after a certain amount of time, the gallbladder can't be seen, the doctor may give you a small injection of morphine, which can help to move the radionuclide into the gallbladder. The morphine may cause you to feel tired after the exam.

Sometimes during this test, you will be given a medication to help the health care provider see how well your gallbladder squeezes.

How to prepare for the test:

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

How the test will feel:

When the tracer is injected into the vein, there will be a sharp prick from the needle. After the injection, the puncture site may be sore. There is normally no pain during the scan.

Why the test is performed:

This test is very good for detecting acute infection of the gallbladder or blockage of a bile duct. It is also helpful in determining whether there is rejection of a transplanted liver.

It can also be used to detect long-term gallbladder problems and to see how well the gallbladder squeezes (contracts).