American College of Radiology updates imaging appropriateness criteria with 6 new topics
The American College of Radiology released imaging appropriateness criteria covering six new topics on Sunday.
It’s also updating 10 more topics, with all incorporating a narrative, evidence table and summary of the literature. The latest release covers clinical scenarios such as imaging of mediastinal masses and screening for fetal anomaly during the second and third trimester.
“The ACR Appropriateness Criteria ensures consistent behaviors for medical imaging and interventional radiology procedures for all patients,” Mark Lockhart, MD, chair of the college’s Committee on Appropriateness Criteria, said in an Oct. 4 statement. “The ACR AC continues to be a critical resource that helps providers enhance quality of care and contribute to the most efficacious use of radiology.”
ACR first introduced its appropriateness criteria back in 1993, and the resource has since grown to include nearly 200 diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology topics covering more than 1,700 clinical scenarios.
The six new topics follow below. ACR also issued similar updates in January and April.
- Imaging of Mediastinal Masses
- Postmenopausal Acute Pelvic Pain
- Second and Third Trimester Screening for Fetal Anomaly
- Staging and Follow-up of Vulvar Cancer
- Syncope
- Radiologic Management of Portal Hypertension
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.