Investigation for assessing proper functioning of biliary system: March 2007

Ans. D: All of the above USG is the initial modality of choice as it is accurate, readily available, inexpensive and quick to perform.It demonstrates biliary calculi, the size of gall bladder, the thickness of gall bladder wall ,thye presence of inflammation around the gall bladder, the size of CBD etc. CT scan allows proper visualization of the liver, bile ducts, gall bladder and pancreas. For benign biliary diseases, standard CT is not that useful an investigation. It is paicularly useful in staging of cancers of liver, gall bladder, bile ducts and pancreas. A Hepatobiliary Iminodiacetic Acid Scan, (HIDA scan)/cholescintigraphy is a radiology imaging procedure to evaluate the health and function of the gall bladder. The radioactive tracer is injected through any accessible vein,then allowed to circulate to the liver, where it is excreted into the biliary system and stored by the gallbladder and biliary system. If the gall bladder is not visualized within 4 hours after the injection, this indicates cystic duct obstruction.