The American College of Radiology (ACR) has released an updated version of its ACR Appropriateness Criteria.
The document was first introduced in 1993. It now consists of 179 diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology topics and more than 1,560 clinical scenarios, according to the ACR; the new version adds three new and nine revised topics.
New topics include the following:
- Lung cancer screening
- Postmenopausal subacute or chronic pelvic pain
- Suspected new-onset and known nonacute heart failure
Revised topics are as follows:
- Acutely limping child up to age 5
- Acute respiratory illness in immunocompetent patients
- Breast pain
- Chronic chest pain, noncardiac etiology unlikely: low to intermediate probability of coronary artery disease
- Chronic dyspnea, noncardiovascular origin
- Chronic knee pain
- Evaluation of the symptomatic male breast
- Management of vertebral compression fractures
- Right lower quadrant pain, suspected appendicitis
