American College of Radiology updates imaging appropriateness criteria with 8 new topics
The American College of Radiology has updated its imaging appropriateness criteria with eight new topics, the organization announced Monday.
First introduced in 1993, the criteria are aimed at helping referring providers to select appropriate diagnostic and interventional imaging services. ACR is adding new entries covering scenarios such as brain tumors, inflammatory ear disease, and lung cancer staging after therapy.
“Using ACR Appropriateness Criteria for guidance can enable consistent medical imaging and interventional radiology care for all patients,” Ihab Kamel, MD, PhD, chair of the ACR Committee on Appropriateness Criteria, said in an Oct. 28 announcement. “These important updates can help referring physicians and other providers enhance the quality of care they provide.”
A panel of medical experts develops and reviews the criteria each year for updates. ACR on Monday also issued 18 revisions to previously created topics and previously updated its appropriateness criteria in April.
Here is the full list of eight new entries:
- Assessment of Cardiac Function and Baseline Cardiac Risk Stratification in Oncology Patients
- Brain Tumors
- Evaluation of Coronary Artery Anomalies
- Imaging for Pulmonary Embolism, Known Clot
- Imaging of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)
- Inflammatory Ear Disease
- Lung Cancer: Surveillance After Therapy
- Staging and Follow-up of Anal Cancer
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.