American College of Radiology Releases New and Updated Appropriateness Criteria

October 12, 2023 — The American College of Radiology (ACR) released an update to its ACR Appropriateness Criteria (ACR AC), which includes 233 diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology topics with more than 1,100 clinical variants covering more than 3,000 clinical scenarios. The update includes nine new and nine revised topics. All topics include a narrative, evidence table and a literature search summary. 

“These updates to the ACR Appropriateness Criteria will assist referring physicians and other providers make the most appropriate imaging or treatment decisions for specific clinical conditions,” said Mark E. Lockhart, MD, MPH, chair of the ACR Committee on Appropriateness Criteria. 

New Topics: 

• Imaging of Invasive Breast Cancer 
• Preprocedural Planning for Left Atrial Procedures in Atrial Fibrillation 
• Cerebrovascular Diseases-Stroke and Stroke-Related Conditions 
• Orbital Imaging and Vision Loss-Child 
• Soft Tissue Vascular Anomalies-Vascular Malformations and Infantile Vascular Tumors-Child 
• Sepsis 
• Workup of Pleural Effusion or Pleural Disease 
• Hydronephrosis on Prior Imaging-Unknown Cause 
• Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm 

Revised Topics: 

• Female Breast Cancer Screening 
• Acute Pelvic Pain in the Reproductive Age Group 
• Clinically Suspected Adnexal Mass, No Acute Symptoms 
• Pretreatment Evaluation and Follow-up of Invasive Cancer of the Cervix 
• Management of Uterine Fibroids 
• Chronic Hand and Wrist Pain 
• Dizziness and Ataxia 
• Urinary Tract Infection-Child 
• Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation (PAVM) 

The ACR AC was first introduced in 1993 by expert panels in diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology. The guidelines are developed and reviewed annually by expert panels in diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology. 

Spanish translations of the ACR AC are now available from Colegio Interamericano de Radiología for more than 40 topics. More Spanish versions will be posted on a rolling basis as translations progress. More information about ACR AC is available on the ACR website.