American College of Radiology Announces Several New and Revised ACR Appropriateness Criteria Topics

Newswise — The American College of Radiology (ACR) today released an update to the ACR Appropriateness Criteria®, which includes 186 diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology topics with 914 clinical variants covering more than 1,600 clinical scenarios. This update includes seven new and 19 revised topics. Each topic contains a narrative, an evidence table and a literature search summary. An appendix that includes a strength of evidence assessment for each of the recommendations and additional details about the rating round tabulations is also available for new and revised topics in this release.

“These evidence-based, expert-developed guidelines have long been recognized across the medical field as a national standard,” said Frank J. Rybicki, MD, PhD, FACR, chair of the ACR Committee on Appropriateness Criteria. “As we rapidly approach the beginning of the mandatory consultation of appropriate use criteria under PAMA, these resources are becoming even more important to the practice of medicine. The College welcomes meaningful comments on all topics as we work together to enhance patient care.”

The new topics in today’s release are:

1. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Follow-up (Without Repair)
2. Acute Mental Status Change, Delirium, and New Onset Psychosis
3. Nonatherosclerotic Peripheral Arterial Disease
4. Scoliosis-Child
5. Suspected Appendicitis – Child
6. Suspected Spine Trauma – Child
7. Thyroid Disease

The ACR Appropriateness Criteria, which recently celebrated its 25^th anniversary, provides the most comprehensive evidence-based guidelines for diagnostic imaging selection and image guided interventional procedures.

Medical providers may consult the ACR Appropriateness Criteria to fulfill Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) requirements that they consult AUC prior to ordering advanced diagnostic imaging for Medicare patients. The ACR is designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as a qualified Provider-Led Entity.

For more information about ACR Appropriateness Criteria, visit the ACR website.

To arrange an interview with any ACR member, contact Meghan Swope at 703-390-9822 or [email protected].

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About the American College of Radiology

The American College of Radiology (ACR), founded in 1924, is a professional medical society dedicated to serving patients and society by empowering radiology professionals to advance the practice, science, and professions of radiological care.