The revised edition of ACR Appropriateness Criteria® now covers 227 topics with more than 1,100 clinical indications. Developed by the American College of Radiology (ACR), the new release features 7 new and 19 updated diagnostic imaging and radiation oncology topics. These guidelines help clinicians choose the most appropriate medical imaging exam for a specific clinical condition, thus reducing unnecessary scans and imaging costs.


“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,” says E. Kent Yucel, MD, FACR, chair of the ACR Committee on Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology Appropriateness Criteria. 

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. 

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

Additional information about ACR Appropriateness Criteria can be found on the ACR website.

Image Credit: ACR 

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ACR Appropriateness Criteria, American College of Radiology, imaging, radiation, oncology The revised edition of ACR Appropriateness Criteria® now covers 227 topics with more than 1,100 clinical indications. Developed by the American College of Radiology (ACR), the new release features 7 new and 19 updated diagnostic imaging and radiation onco