Updated Guidelines Issued by American College of Radiology

The American College of Radiology has issued new and updated evidence-based guidelines to help radiologists choose the most appropriate medical imaging exam for a patient’s clinical condition.

The latest version of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Appropriateness Criteria® updates 39 appropriateness criteria topics and adds five new criteria. The new screening criteria include breast cancer screening and imaging of mesenteric ischemia.

“ACR Appropriateness Criteria can help providers identify when they can replace an exam that uses ionizing radiation with one that does not, or even when no imaging exam may be needed at all,” said E. Kent Yucel, MD, FACR, chair of the ACT Committee on Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology Appropriateness Criteria. “This can reduce patient and population exposure to radiation, and ensure appropriate imaging, without disrupting the doctor-patient relationship or delaying needed care.”