ACR Appropriateness Criteria Flashcards
New or increasing nontraumatic cervical or neck pain. No red flags. INTIAL IMAGING
radiography cervical spine usually appropriate
Others:
- MRI cervical spine w/o IV contrast may be appropriate (disagreement)
- CT cervical spine w/o IV contrast may be appropriate
New or increasing nontraumatic cervical radiculopathy. No red flags. INITIAL IMAGING.
MRI cervical spine without IV contrast usually appropriate
Others:
CT cervical spine without IV contrast or MRI cervical spine with or without IV contrast may be appropriate
Chronic cervical or neck pain. INITIAL IMAGING.
radiography of cervical spine usually appropriate
Others:
- MRI cervical spine w/o IV contrast may be appropriate (disagreement)
Child 3-16 years old. Acute cervical spine trauma, meets low risk criteria (based on PECARN or NEXUS). INITIAL IMAGING.
imaging usually not appropriate
Acute onset myelopathy. INITIAL IMAGING
MRI spine area of interest with OR without IV contrast usually appropriate.
Others:
- CT myelography spine area of interest may be appropriate
- CT spine area of interest w/or w/o IV contrast may be appropriate
Chronic or progressive myelopathy. INITIAL IMAGING.
MRI spine area of interest without and with IV contrast usually appropriate
Others:
- CT myelography spine area of interest may be appropriate
- CT spine area of interest w/or w/o IV contrast may be appropriate
Age greater than or equal to 16 years and less than 65 years. Suspected acute blunt cervical spine trauma. Imaging not indicated by NEXUS or CCR clinical criteria. Patient meets low risk criteria. INITIAL IMAGING.
imaging usually not appropriate
Age greater than or equal to 16 years and less than 65 years. Suspected acute cervical spine blunt trauma. Imaging indicated by NEXUS or CCR clinical criteria. INITIAL IMAGING
CT cervical spine without IV contrast usually appropriate
Others:
- Radiography of the cervical spine may be appropriate
Age greater than or equal to 16 years. Suspected acute cervical spine blunt trauma. Confirmed or suspected cervical spinal cord or nerve root injury, with or without traumatic injury identified on cervical CT. NEXT IMAGING STUDY.
MRI cervical spine without IV contrast usually appropriate
Others:
- CT myelography cervical spine may be appropriate
Age greater than or equal to 16 years. Suspected acute cervical spine blunt trauma. Clinical or imaging findings suggest ligamentous injury. NEXT IMAGING STUDY AFTER CT CERVICAL SPINE WITHOUT IV CONTRAST.
MRI cervical spine without IV contrast usually appropriate
Child 3-16 years of age, acute cervical spine trauma, meets low risk criteria (based on NEXUS/PECARN). INITIAL IMAGING
imaging usually not appropriate
Child 3-16 years old, acute cervical spine trauma, at least one risk factor with reliable clinical examination (based on PECARN, NEXUS). INITIAL IMAGING.
radiography cervical spine usually appropriate
Others:
CT or MRI cervical spine without IV Contrast may be appropriate (disagreement)
Age greater than or equal to 16 years. Blunt trauma meeting criteria for thoracic and lumbar imaging. INITIAL IMAGING
CT thoracic and lumbar spine without IV contrast usually appropriate
Others:
Radiography thoracic and lumbar spine may be appropriate
Age greater than or equal to 16 years. Acute thoracic or lumbar spine injury detected on radiographs or noncontrast CT. Neurologic abnormalities. NEXT IMAGING STUDY.
MRI thoracic and lumbar spine without IV contrast.
Others:
CT myelography thoracic and lumbar spine may be appropriate.
Child, younger than 16 years of age, suspected thoracolumbar spine trauma. INITIAL IMAGING.
radiography thoracic and lumbar spine usually appropriate
Others:
CT or MRI of thoracic and lumbar spine without IV contrast may be appropriate (disagreement)
Suspected rib fractures from minor blunt trauma (injury confined to ribs). INITIAL IMAGING.
radiography of chest usually appropriate
Others:
Radiography rib views may be appropriate
Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. INITIAL IMAGING and FOLLOW UP IMAGING after surgery or intervention
All usually appropriate:
- MRI chest without and with IV contrast
- Radiography chest
Others:
CT or CTA with IV contrast may be appropriate, US duplex doppler subclavian artery and vein may be appropriate
Arterial thoracic outlet syndrome. Initial imaging and follow up imaging after surgery or intervention. (5)
All usually appropriate:
- CTA chest with IV contrast
- MRA chest without and with IV contrast
- radiography of chest
- US duplex doppler subclavian artery and vein
- arteriography upper extremity
Others:
CT chest with IV contrast, MRI chest with and without IV contrast, MRA chest without contrast, MRI chest without IV contrast, CT chest without IV contrast also all may be appropriate
Child. Congenital scoliosis. INITIAL IMAGING.
Either usually appropriate:
- radiography complete spine
- MRI complete spine without IV contrast
Others:
CT area of spine of interest without IV contrast may be appropriate
Child (0-9 years of age). Early onset idiopathic scoliosis. INITIAL IMAGING.
Either usually appropriate:
- radiography complete spine
- MRI complete spine without IV contrast
Traumatic shoulder pain. Any etiology. INITIAL IMAGING
x-ray shoulder usually appropriate
Traumatic shoulder pain. Nonlocalized shoulder pain. Negative radiographs. NEXT IMAGING study.
MRI shoulder without IV contrast usually appropriate
Others:
CT arthrography of shoulder, MR arthrography of shoulder, US shoulder (disagreement) may be appropriate
Traumatic shoulder pain. Radiographs normal. Physical exam and history consistent with dislocation or instability. Next imaging study.
Either usually appropriate:
- MR arthrography of shoulder
- MRI shoulder without IV contrast
Others:
CT arthrography shoulder and CT shoulder without IV contrast may also both be appropriate
Traumatic shoulder pain. Radiographs normal. Physical examination findings consistent with rotator cuff tear. Next imaging study.
Following 3 all usually appropriate:
- MRI shoulder without IV contrast
- MR arthrography shoulder
- US shoulder
Others:
CT arthrography of shoulder may be appropriate
Atraumatic shoulder pain. INITIAL IMAGING.
X-Ray shoulder usually appropriate
Atraumatic shoulder pain. Suspect rotator cuff disorders (tendinosis, tear, calcific tendinitis). Initial radiographs normal or inconclusive. NEXT IMAGING STUDY.
Either usually appropriate:
- MRI shoulder without IV contrast
- US shoulder
Others:
MR arthrography of shoulder or CT arthrography of shoulder may both be appropriate
Atraumatic shoulder pain. Suspect labral tear and instability. Initial radiographs normal or inconclusive. NEXT IMAGING STUDY.
Either usually appropriate:
- MR arthrography of shoulder
- MRI of shoulder without IV contrast
Others:
CT arthrography of shoulder may be appropriate
Evaluation for chronic elbow pain. INITIAL IMAGING.
X-ray elbow
Chronic elbow pain: Mechanical symptoms (locking, clicking, limited motion); suspect intra-articular osteocartilaginous body or synovial abnormality; radiographs non-diagnostic. NEXT IMAGING STUDY
Either usually appropriate:
- MRI elbow without contrast
- MR arthrography elbow
Others:
CT elbow without contrast, CT arthrography elbow also may be appropriate