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Workup of Pleural Effusion or Pleural Disease

Variant: 1   Recent pneumonia with suspected parapneumonic effusion or empyema. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category Relative Radiation Level
Radiography chest Usually Appropriate ☢
CT chest with IV contrast Usually Appropriate ☢☢☢
US chest May Be Appropriate (Disagreement) O
CT chest without IV contrast May Be Appropriate ☢☢☢
MRI chest without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate O
MRI chest without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate O
CT chest without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢
CTA chest with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢

Variant: 2   Recent minor blunt trauma with suspected pleural effusion. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category Relative Radiation Level
Radiography chest Usually Appropriate ☢
CT chest with IV contrast Usually Appropriate ☢☢☢
US chest May Be Appropriate (Disagreement) O
CT chest without IV contrast May Be Appropriate ☢☢☢
CTA chest with IV contrast May Be Appropriate (Disagreement) ☢☢☢
Image-guided aspiration chest Usually Not Appropriate Varies
MRI chest without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate O
MRI chest without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate O
CT chest without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢

Variant: 3   Dyspnea, cough, or chest pain with suspected pleural effusion, noninfectious. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category Relative Radiation Level
Radiography chest Usually Appropriate ☢
CT chest with IV contrast Usually Appropriate ☢☢☢
US chest May Be Appropriate (Disagreement) O
CT chest without IV contrast May Be Appropriate ☢☢☢
MRI chest without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate O
MRI chest without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate O
CT chest without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢
CTA chest with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢

Variant: 4   Pleural effusion incidentally detected on incomplete thoracic imaging study. Next imaging study.
Procedure Appropriateness Category Relative Radiation Level
US chest May Be Appropriate (Disagreement) O
Radiography chest May Be Appropriate (Disagreement) ☢
CT chest with IV contrast May Be Appropriate (Disagreement) ☢☢☢
MRI chest without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate O
MRI chest without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate O
CT chest without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢
CT chest without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢
CTA chest with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate ☢☢☢

Panel Members
Summary of Literature Review
Introduction/Background
Special Imaging Considerations
Initial Imaging Definition

Initial imaging is defined as imaging at the beginning of the care episode for the medical condition defined by the variant. More than one procedure can be considered usually appropriate in the initial imaging evaluation when:

  • There are procedures that are equivalent alternatives (ie, only one procedure will be ordered to provide the clinical information to effectively manage the patient’s care)

OR

  • There are complementary procedures (ie, more than one procedure is ordered as a set or simultaneously wherein each procedure provides unique clinical information to effectively manage the patient’s care).
Discussion of Procedures by Variant
Variant 1: Recent pneumonia with suspected parapneumonic effusion or empyema. Initial imaging.
Variant 1: Recent pneumonia with suspected parapneumonic effusion or empyema. Initial imaging.
A. CT Chest With IV Contrast
Variant 1: Recent pneumonia with suspected parapneumonic effusion or empyema. Initial imaging.
B. CT Chest Without and With IV Contrast
Variant 1: Recent pneumonia with suspected parapneumonic effusion or empyema. Initial imaging.
C. CT Chest Without IV Contrast
Variant 1: Recent pneumonia with suspected parapneumonic effusion or empyema. Initial imaging.
D. CTA Chest With IV Contrast
Variant 1: Recent pneumonia with suspected parapneumonic effusion or empyema. Initial imaging.
E. MRI Chest Without and With IV Contrast
Variant 1: Recent pneumonia with suspected parapneumonic effusion or empyema. Initial imaging.
F. MRI Chest Without IV Contrast
Variant 1: Recent pneumonia with suspected parapneumonic effusion or empyema. Initial imaging.
G. Radiography Chest
Variant 1: Recent pneumonia with suspected parapneumonic effusion or empyema. Initial imaging.
H. US Chest
Variant 2: Recent minor blunt trauma with suspected pleural effusion. Initial imaging.
Variant 2: Recent minor blunt trauma with suspected pleural effusion. Initial imaging.
A. CT Chest With IV Contrast
Variant 2: Recent minor blunt trauma with suspected pleural effusion. Initial imaging.
B. CT Chest Without and With IV Contrast
Variant 2: Recent minor blunt trauma with suspected pleural effusion. Initial imaging.
C. CT Chest Without IV Contrast
Variant 2: Recent minor blunt trauma with suspected pleural effusion. Initial imaging.
D. CTA Chest With IV Contrast
Variant 2: Recent minor blunt trauma with suspected pleural effusion. Initial imaging.
E. Image-Guided Aspiration Chest
Variant 2: Recent minor blunt trauma with suspected pleural effusion. Initial imaging.
F. MRI Chest Without and With IV Contrast
Variant 2: Recent minor blunt trauma with suspected pleural effusion. Initial imaging.
G. MRI Chest Without IV Contrast
Variant 2: Recent minor blunt trauma with suspected pleural effusion. Initial imaging.
H. Radiography Chest
Variant 2: Recent minor blunt trauma with suspected pleural effusion. Initial imaging.
I. US Chest
Variant 3: Dyspnea, cough, or chest pain with suspected pleural effusion, noninfectious. Initial imaging.
Variant 3: Dyspnea, cough, or chest pain with suspected pleural effusion, noninfectious. Initial imaging.
A. CT Chest With IV Contrast
Variant 3: Dyspnea, cough, or chest pain with suspected pleural effusion, noninfectious. Initial imaging.
B. CT Chest Without and With IV Contrast
Variant 3: Dyspnea, cough, or chest pain with suspected pleural effusion, noninfectious. Initial imaging.
C. CT Chest Without IV Contrast
Variant 3: Dyspnea, cough, or chest pain with suspected pleural effusion, noninfectious. Initial imaging.
D. CTA Chest With IV Contrast
Variant 3: Dyspnea, cough, or chest pain with suspected pleural effusion, noninfectious. Initial imaging.
E. MRI Chest Without and With IV Contrast
Variant 3: Dyspnea, cough, or chest pain with suspected pleural effusion, noninfectious. Initial imaging.
F. MRI Chest Without IV Contrast
Variant 3: Dyspnea, cough, or chest pain with suspected pleural effusion, noninfectious. Initial imaging.
G. Radiography Chest
Variant 3: Dyspnea, cough, or chest pain with suspected pleural effusion, noninfectious. Initial imaging.
H. US Chest
Variant 4: Pleural effusion incidentally detected on incomplete thoracic imaging study. Next imaging study.
Variant 4: Pleural effusion incidentally detected on incomplete thoracic imaging study. Next imaging study.
A. CT Chest With IV Contrast
Variant 4: Pleural effusion incidentally detected on incomplete thoracic imaging study. Next imaging study.
B. CT Chest Without and With IV Contrast
Variant 4: Pleural effusion incidentally detected on incomplete thoracic imaging study. Next imaging study.
C. CT Chest Without IV Contrast
Variant 4: Pleural effusion incidentally detected on incomplete thoracic imaging study. Next imaging study.
D. CTA Chest With IV Contrast
Variant 4: Pleural effusion incidentally detected on incomplete thoracic imaging study. Next imaging study.
E. MRI Chest Without and With IV Contrast
Variant 4: Pleural effusion incidentally detected on incomplete thoracic imaging study. Next imaging study.
F. MRI Chest Without IV Contrast
Variant 4: Pleural effusion incidentally detected on incomplete thoracic imaging study. Next imaging study.
G. Radiography Chest
Variant 4: Pleural effusion incidentally detected on incomplete thoracic imaging study. Next imaging study.
H. US Chest
Summary of Recommendations
Supporting Documents

The evidence table, literature search, and appendix for this topic are available at https://acsearch.acr.org/list. The appendix includes the strength of evidence assessment and the final rating round tabulations for each recommendation.

For additional information on the Appropriateness Criteria methodology and other supporting documents, please go to the ACR website at https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Clinical-Tools-and-Reference/Appropriateness-Criteria.

Appropriateness Category Names and Definitions

Appropriateness Category Name

Appropriateness Rating

Appropriateness Category Definition

Usually Appropriate

7, 8, or 9

The imaging procedure or treatment is indicated in the specified clinical scenarios at a favorable risk-benefit ratio for patients.

May Be Appropriate

4, 5, or 6

The imaging procedure or treatment may be indicated in the specified clinical scenarios as an alternative to imaging procedures or treatments with a more favorable risk-benefit ratio, or the risk-benefit ratio for patients is equivocal.

May Be Appropriate (Disagreement)

5

The individual ratings are too dispersed from the panel median. The different label provides transparency regarding the panel’s recommendation. “May be appropriate” is the rating category and a rating of 5 is assigned.

Usually Not Appropriate

1, 2, or 3

The imaging procedure or treatment is unlikely to be indicated in the specified clinical scenarios, or the risk-benefit ratio for patients is likely to be unfavorable.
Relative Radiation Level Information

Potential adverse health effects associated with radiation exposure are an important factor to consider when selecting the appropriate imaging procedure. Because there is a wide range of radiation exposures associated with different diagnostic procedures, a relative radiation level (RRL) indication has been included for each imaging examination. The RRLs are based on effective dose, which is a radiation dose quantity that is used to estimate population total radiation risk associated with an imaging procedure. Patients in the pediatric age group are at inherently higher risk from exposure, because of both organ sensitivity and longer life expectancy (relevant to the long latency that appears to accompany radiation exposure). For these reasons, the RRL dose estimate ranges for pediatric examinations are lower as compared with those specified for adults (see Table below). Additional information regarding radiation dose assessment for imaging examinations can be found in the ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Radiation Dose Assessment Introduction document.

Relative Radiation Level Designations

Relative Radiation Level*

Adult Effective Dose Estimate Range

Pediatric Effective Dose Estimate Range

O

0 mSv

 0 mSv

☢

<0.1 mSv

<0.03 mSv

☢☢

0.1-1 mSv

0.03-0.3 mSv

☢☢☢

1-10 mSv

0.3-3 mSv

☢☢☢☢

10-30 mSv

3-10 mSv

☢☢☢☢☢

30-100 mSv

10-30 mSv

*RRL assignments for some of the examinations cannot be made, because the actual patient doses in these procedures vary as a function of a number of factors (e.g., region of the body exposed to ionizing radiation, the imaging guidance that is used). The RRLs for these examinations are designated as “Varies.”
References
Disclaimer

The ACR Committee on Appropriateness Criteria and its expert panels have developed criteria for determining appropriate imaging examinations for diagnosis and treatment of specified medical condition(s). These criteria are intended to guide radiologists, radiation oncologists and referring physicians in making decisions regarding radiologic imaging and treatment. Generally, the complexity and severity of a patient’s clinical condition should dictate the selection of appropriate imaging procedures or treatments. Only those examinations generally used for evaluation of the patient’s condition are ranked. Other imaging studies necessary to evaluate other co-existent diseases or other medical consequences of this condition are not considered in this document. The availability of equipment or personnel may influence the selection of appropriate imaging procedures or treatments. Imaging techniques classified as investigational by the FDA have not been considered in developing these criteria; however, study of new equipment and applications should be encouraged. The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any specific radiologic examination or treatment must be made by the referring physician and radiologist in light of all the circumstances presented in an individual examination.