Nuclear medicine: HIDA scan: practice question

A Radiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Radiology · Nuclear medicine: HIDA scan

Sample item

A patient with right upper quadrant pain undergoes a HIDA scan, and the gallbladder is not visualised after 4 hours although the bile ducts and bowel fill. What does this suggest?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Cystic duct obstruction (acute cholecystitis)

Non-filling of the gallbladder with tracer in the duct and the bowel indicates cystic duct obstruction, commonly due to a stone in acute cholecystitis. In common bile duct obstruction, the tracer does not reach the bowel. A normal study fills the gallbladder within an hour.

Option by option

  • A. Normal study

    A normal study fills the gallbladder.

  • B. Common bile duct obstruction

    A CBD block shows no tracer in the bowel.

  • C. Cystic duct obstruction (acute cholecystitis) (correct)

    Correct. Non-visualisation of the gallbladder with biliary excretion implies cystic duct obstruction.

  • D. Biliary atresia in an adult

    Biliary atresia is a neonatal disease.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is C, Cystic duct obstruction (acute cholecystitis). Non-filling of the gallbladder with tracer in the duct and the bowel indicates cystic duct obstruction, commonly due to a stone in acute cholecystitis.

Why is "Normal study" not the answer?

A normal study fills the gallbladder.

Why is "Common bile duct obstruction" not the answer?

A CBD block shows no tracer in the bowel.

Why is "Biliary atresia in an adult" not the answer?

Biliary atresia is a neonatal disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nuclear medicine: HIDA scan in Radiology. In common bile duct obstruction, the tracer does not reach the bowel. A normal study fills the gallbladder within an hour.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Nuclear medicine: HIDA scan?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.