The American College of Radiology (ACR) has released the spring 2019 version of its evidence-based guidelines for diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology.
The updated ACR Appropriateness Criteria include guidelines for two new topics: clinically suspected vascular malformation of the extremities and gestational trophoblastic disease. The latest edition of the criteria also includes revisions to the following topics:
- Acute pancreatitis
- Acute respiratory illness in immunocompromised patients
- Headache
- Lower urinary tract symptoms and suspicion of benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Palpable abdominal mass in suspected neoplasm
- Penetrating trauma for lower abdomen and pelvis
- Post-treatment follow-up and active surveillance of clinically localized renal cell cancer
- Post-treatment surveillance of bladder cancer
- Stage I breast cancer: initial workup and surveillance for local recurrence and distant metastases in asymptomatic women
- Suspected osteomyelitis of the foot in patients with diabetes mellitus
Medical providers may consult the ACR Appropriateness Criteria to meet Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) requirements before ordering diagnostic imaging for Medicare patients, according to the college.
