Hepatobiliary scintigraphy is useful for the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis.

To avoid false-positive exams, it is important that the patient be fasting for at least 4 hours prior to the exam to include no TPN. Recent caloric intake can stimulate the endogenous secretion of CCK which causes gall bladder contraction and potentially prevents its filling by the radiotracer. Likewise, if the patient has been fasting for too long (generally >24 hours), the bile in the gall bladder can become viscous and prevent normal filling with the radiotracer, simulating acute cholecystitis. In such instances, it is recommended to pre-treat the patient with CCK at least 30 minutes before the exam.