The American College of Radiology (ACR) has released an update to its Appropriateness Criteria, which includes nine new and nine revised topics.
The criteria in total include 233 diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology topics with more than 1,100 clinical variants covering more than 3,000 clinical scenarios. All topics include a narrative, an evidence table, and a literature search summary. The ACR said the criteria aim to assist referring physicians and other providers in making the most appropriate imaging or treatment decisions for specific clinical conditions.
The following are the new topics:
- Imaging of Invasive Breast Cancer
- Preprocedural Planning for Left Atrial Procedures in Atrial Fibrillation
- Cerebrovascular Diseases-Stroke and Stroke-Related Conditions
- Orbital Imaging and Vision Loss-Child
- Soft Tissue Vascular Anomalies-Vascular Malformations and Infantile Vascular Tumors-Child
- Sepsis
- Workup of Pleural Effusion or Pleural Disease
- Hydronephrosis on Prior Imaging-Unknown Cause
- Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Revised topics include the following:
- Female Breast Cancer Screening
- Acute Pelvic Pain in the Reproductive Age Group
- Clinically Suspected Adnexal Mass, No Acute Symptoms
- Pretreatment Evaluation and Follow-up of Invasive Cancer of the Cervix
- Management of Uterine Fibroids
- Chronic Hand and Wrist Pain
- Dizziness and Ataxia
- Urinary Tract Infection-Child
- Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation (PAVM)
Spanish translations of the appropriateness criteria are also available from Colegio Interamericano de RadiologĂa for more than 40 topics. The ACR said that more Spanish versions will be posted on a rolling basis as translations progress. More information about the criteria is available on the ACR website.
