Nuclear Cholescintigraphy

Your physician has referred you to the Diagnostic Imaging Department at United Hospital Center for a nuclear imaging procedure known as a cholescintigraphy.

Nuclear Cholescintigraphy is used to aid in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, to establish the function of the gallbladder in patients with chronic cholecystitis, to aid in the differential diagnosis of acute hepatitis versus acute biliary obstruction, and to visualize abnormal biliary leakage.

For this exam to be successful, DO NOT eat or drink anything for four (4) hours prior to the scheduled exam.

After arriving in the Diagnostic Imaging Department for your Cholescintigraphy, you will be given an injection in a vein in your arm, of a small amount of radioactive material which will allow the liver, gallbladder, and small bowel to be visualized. Following this injection, images will be taken of your gallbladder for 60 minutes.

If your physician has requested the ejection fraction component of this test to be performed, you will be asked to eat a fatty meal (provided by the department) after your first set of images. The fat content in this meal will allow your gallbladder to contract and the amount of contraction can be measured. One additional image (2 minute image) will be taken 30 minutes after eating the fatty meal. Following the completion of these images your procedure will be complete.

LENGTH: Approximately 2 hours

If you are pregnant, or think you might be, tell your doctor and the technologist BEFORE your exam.