January 03, 2017, Reston, VA — ACR Appropriateness Criteria® have been updated to cover 227 topics with more than 1,100 clinical indications. These continuously reviewed evidence-based guidelines help health care providers choose the most appropriate medical imaging exam for a specific clinical condition.

“Use of these guidelines in exam ordering ensures that the right patient gets the right scan for the right indication and has been shown to improve quality, reduce unwarranted scans and lower imaging costs,” said E. Kent Yucel, MD, FACR, chair of the ACR Committee on Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology Appropriateness Criteria. “The guidelines allow providers to educate themselves regarding the latest evidence-based approach to medical imaging for a given procedure without disrupting the doctor-patient relationship or delaying needed care,” he added.

The guidelines are specified appropriate use criteria (AUC) under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) legislation and are developed by expert panels of doctors from the relevant medical specialties. Developed by the American College of Radiology (ACR), which is designated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a qualified Provider-Led Entity, the new release features 7 new and 19 updated diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology topics.
New diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology topics

Back Pain — Child
Chronic Extremity Joint Pain, Suspected Inflammatory Arthritis
Imaging of Possible Tuberculosis
Adjuvant Management of Early Stage Endometrial Cancer
Evaluation of Nipple Discharge
Chronic Liver Disease
Chylothorax Treatment Planning


Revised diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology topics

Chronic Chest Pain — High Probability of Coronary Artery Disease
Dyspnea — Suspected Cardiac Origin
Chronic Hip Pain
Hematospermia
Known or Suspected Congenital Heart Disease in the Adult
Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Palpable Breast Masses
Plexopathy
Prostate Cancer — Pretreatment Detection, Surveillance and Staging
Pulsatile Abdominal Mass — Suspected Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Renal Transplant Dysfunction
Stress (Fatigue/Insufficiency) Fracture, Including Sacrum, Excluding Other Vertebrae
Suspected Liver Metastases
Suspected Physical Abuse — Child
Suspected Pulmonary Hypertension
Urinary Tract Infection — Child
Vascular Claudication — Assessment for Revascularization
Permanent Source Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer
Recurrent Hodgkin Lymphoma

For more information about ACR Appropriateness Criteria visit the ACR website. Learn more about ACR Select® provided by National Decision Support Company, which contains the digital content of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria. This platform can be integrated with computerized ordering or electronic health record (EHR) systems to guide providers when ordering medical imaging scans.


About the American College of Radiology
The American College of Radiology (ACR), founded in 1924, is a professional medical society dedicated to serving patients and society by empowering radiology professionals to advance the practice, science, and professions of radiological care.

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