The procedure is fairly straightforward but involves several steps:
A small amount of radioactive tracer is injected intravenously into the child. The tracer travels through the bloodstream to the liver, where it is taken up by hepatocytes and eventually excreted into the bile ducts. A gamma camera captures images of the tracer's movement through the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and small intestine over time.
The entire process typically takes between 1 to 2 hours. It's important to note that the amount of radioactive material used is very small and generally considered safe for pediatric patients.
