Help diagnose gallbladder cancer by showing findings such as a mass filling the gallbladder, or a thickening of the gallbladder wall. Help stage the cancer (find out how far it has spread). CT scans can show the organs (such as the liver) and blood vessels (such as the hepatic arteries) near the gallbladder, as well as lymph nodes and distant ...

A HIDA scan is most often done to evaluate the gallbladder. It's also used to look at the bile-excreting function of the liver and to track the flow of bile from the liver into the small intestine. A HIDA scan is often used with X-ray and ultrasound. A HIDA scan might help in the diagnosis of several diseases and conditions, such as:

A HIDA scan (hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan) is an important test for diagnosing certain issues in your liver, bile ducts and gallbladder. While it can be stressful to have to undergo a test, know that a HIDA scan is essentially painless and that your healthcare provider is available to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

HIDA scan. The image demonstrates excretion through the biliary system into the duodenojejunal junction (DJJ), but with no uptake within the gallbladder/cystic duct (red arrow). The patient was taken to surgery for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for suspected cholecystitis.

The CT scan is probably the most helpful test when doing a workup for suspected gallbladder cancer. This test is noninvasive and can evaluate the size of the tumor, areas of metastasis, and whether or not there is a gross direct extension into the liver.