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Appropriateness Criteria

Variant 1: Adult. Acute or subacute sensorimotor or brainstem symptoms. Suspect demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
MRI cervical and thoracic spine without and with IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 8 8 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 3 3
MRI head without and with IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 10
MRI cervical and thoracic spine with IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 2 0 6 2 0 0 0
MRI cervical and thoracic spine without IV contrast May be appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 1 0 8 0 0 1 0
MRI head without IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 6 6 0 0 1 0 4 4 0 1 0
MRI lumbar spine without and with IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 4 4 1 1 2 4 2 0 0 0 0
MRI orbits with IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 4 4 1 0 4 2 2 0 1 0 0
MRI orbits without and with IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 0 0 7 2 0 1 0
MRI orbits without IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 1 0 3 1 4 1 1 0 0
MRI head with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 3 3 4 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 0
MRI lumbar spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 6 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 0
MRI lumbar spine without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 3 3 3 2 2 1 2 1 0 0 0
CT head with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 10 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT head without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 8 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT head without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 6 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Variant 2: Adult. Acute or subacute sensorimotor symptoms below a spinal cord level. Suspect transverse myelitis. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
MRI cervical and thoracic spine without and with IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 10
MRI head without and with IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 7 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 1 2
MRI cervical and thoracic spine with IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 2 0 7 1 0 0 0
MRI cervical and thoracic spine without IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 1 0 5 3 1 0 0
MRI head without IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 1 1 6 2 0 0 0
MRI lumbar spine without and with IV contrast May be appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 4 4 4 1 0 3 2 1 0 0 0
MRI head with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 3 3 4 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 0
MRI lumbar spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 7 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0
MRI lumbar spine without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 2 2 5 1 0 2 3 0 0 0 0
MRI orbits with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 7 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0
MRI orbits without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 6 0 2 1 2 0 0 0 0
MRI orbits without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 6 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0
CT head with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT head without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT head without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 10 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 9 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Variant 3: Adult. Known demyelinating disease. Stable neurologic examination. Surveillance imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
MRI cervical and thoracic spine without and with IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 1 0 3 0 1 0 6
MRI cervical and thoracic spine without IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 7 7 0 0 1 0 1 2 4 0 3
MRI head without and with IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 6
MRI head without IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 8 8 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 5
MRI cervical and thoracic spine with IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 1 1 8 0 0 0 0
MRI head with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 3 3 4 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0
MRI lumbar spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 8 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
MRI lumbar spine without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 7 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
MRI lumbar spine without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 7 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
MRI orbits with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 6 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 0
MRI orbits without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 3 3 2 1 4 1 2 0 0 0 0
MRI orbits without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 6 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 0
CT head with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT head without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT head without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Variant 4: Adult. Known demyelinating disease. New or progressive neurologic deficits. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
MRI cervical and thoracic spine without and with IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 8
MRI head without and with IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 10
MRI orbits without and with IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 7 7 0 0 1 0 4 0 2 1 3
MRI cervical and thoracic spine with IV contrast May be appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 1 1 6 2 0 0 0
MRI cervical and thoracic spine without IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 1 0 5 2 2 0 0
MRI head without IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 6 6 0 0 1 0 4 4 1 0 0
MRI orbits with IV contrast May be appropriate (Disagreement) Expert Opinion O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 2 1 0 2 3 1 1 0 0
MRI orbits without IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 2 0 7 0 1 0 0
MRI head with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 6 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0
MRI lumbar spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 8 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
MRI lumbar spine without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 6 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
MRI lumbar spine without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 7 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0
CT head with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT head without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT head without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Variant 5: Adult. Acute or chronic symmetric weakness. Suspect demyelinating disease of the peripheral nervous system. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
MRI brachial plexus without and with IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 7
MRI cervical and thoracic spine without and with IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 6
MRI lumbar spine without and with IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 8
MRI lumbosacral plexus without and with IV contrast Usually appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 8
MRI brachial plexus without IV contrast May be appropriate (Disagreement) Expert Opinion O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 1 1 4 2 2 0 0
MRI cervical and thoracic spine without IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 1 0 5 2 2 0 0
MRI head without and with IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 1 0 0 0 6 2 0 1 0
MRI lumbar spine without IV contrast May be appropriate (Disagreement) Expert Opinion O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 2 0 5 2 1 0 0
MRI lumbosacral plexus with IV contrast May be appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 1 1 0 3 4 0 1 0 0
MRI lumbosacral plexus without IV contrast May be appropriate (Disagreement) Expert Opinion O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 1 1 4 2 2 0 0
MRI brachial plexus with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 3 3 4 0 2 1 3 0 0 1 0
MRI cervical and thoracic spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 3 3 2 1 6 0 1 0 0 0 0
MRI head with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 6 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 0
MRI head without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0
MRI lumbar spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 3 3 4 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0
MRI orbits with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MRI orbits without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 9 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
MRI orbits without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT head with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT head without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT head without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT orbits without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢ 1-10 mSv ☢☢☢ 0.3-3 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT cervical and thoracic spine without IV contrast Usually not appropriate Limited ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv 1 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CT lumbar spine without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate Expert Consensus ☢☢☢☢ 10-30 mSv ☢☢☢☢ 3-10 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Appendix Key

A more complete discussion of the items presented below can be found by accessing the supporting documents at the designated hyperlinks.

Appropriateness Category:The panel’s recommendation for a procedure based on the assessment of the risks and benefits of performing the procedure for the specified clinical scenario.

SOE: Strength of Evidence. The assessment of the amount and quality of evidence found in the peer reviewed medical literature for an appropriateness recommendation.

  • References: The citation number and PMID for the reference(s) associated with the recommendation.
  • Study Quality: The assessment of the quality of an individual reference based on the number of study quality elements described in the reference.

RRL: Relative Radiation Level. A population based assessment of the amount of radiation a typical patient may be exposed to during the specified procedure.

Rating: The final rating (1-9 scale) for the procedure as determined by the panel during rating rounds.

Median: The median rating (1-9 scale) for the procedure as determined by the panel during rating rounds.

Final tabulations: A histogram showing the number of panel members who rated the procedure as noted in the column heading (ie, 1, 2, 3, etc.).

Additional supporting documents about the AC methodology and processes can be found at www.acr.org/ac.