American College of Radiology
ACR Appropriateness Criteria®

Breast Implant Evaluation

Variant 1: Evaluation of saline breast implants. Asymptomatic patient. Any age. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Mammography screening Usually not appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 1 1 15 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
US breast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Digital breast tomosynthesis screening Usually not appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 1 1 15 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Variant 2: Evaluation of saline breast implants. Clinical examination equivocal for implant rupture. Age younger than 30 years. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
US breast Usually appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 10
Mammography diagnostic Usually not appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 3 3 3 4 3 3 2 1 0 0 0
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually not appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 3 3 3 4 3 2 3 1 0 0 0
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 14 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Variant 3: Evaluation of saline breast implants. Clinical examination equivocal for implant rupture. Age 30-39 years. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Mammography diagnostic Usually appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 8 8 0 0 0 2 1 0 5 3 5
US breast Usually appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 8 8 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 4 7
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 8 8 0 0 1 0 2 0 4 4 5
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 14 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 14 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Variant 4: Evaluation of saline breast implants. Clinical examination equivocal for implant rupture. Age 40 years or older. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Mammography diagnostic Usually appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 9 9 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 4 10
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 9 9 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 11
US breast May be appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 0 0 1 1 9 4 0 1 0
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Variant 5: Evaluation of silicone breast implants. Asymptomatic patient. Any age. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Mammography screening Usually not appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 1 1 13 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 9 3 2 0 1 0 0 1 0
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 2 1 0 1 0 1 0 0
US breast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 11 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
Digital breast tomosynthesis screening Usually not appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 1 1 13 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Variant 6: Evaluation of silicone breast implants. Suspected implant complication. Age younger than 30 years. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 4 8
US breast Usually appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 8 8 0 0 1 0 2 0 5 1 7
Mammography diagnostic Usually not appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 1 1 10 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 13 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually not appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 1 1 10 1 3 1 0 1 0 0 0
Variant 7: Evaluation of silicone breast implants. Suspected implant complication. Age 30-39 years. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 3 9
Mammography diagnostic Usually appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 7 7 0 0 1 1 3 2 3 3 3
US breast Usually appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 7 7 0 0 0 0 3 1 5 1 6
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 7 7 0 0 0 0 1 1 9 2 3
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 12 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Variant 8: Evaluation of silicone breast implants. Suspected implant complication. Age 40 years or older. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 2 9
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 8 8 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 4 4
Mammography diagnostic Usually appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 7 7 0 0 1 1 3 0 4 3 4
US breast May be appropriate (Disagreement) O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 5 1 0 2 0 6 0 6 0 1
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 12 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Variant 9: Evaluation of unexplained axillary adenopathy. Silicone breast implants (current or prior). Age younger than 30 years. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
US axilla Usually appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 14
Mammography diagnostic Usually not appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 2 2 5 5 2 2 2 0 0 0 0
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 2 2 7 4 3 0 0 1 0 1 0
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually not appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 2 2 4 5 3 2 2 0 0 0 0
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 10 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 0
Variant 10: Evaluation of unexplained axillary adenopathy. Silicone breast implants (current or prior). Age 30-39 years. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Mammography diagnostic Usually appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 9 9 0 0 1 1 2 0 3 1 8
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 9 9 0 0 1 0 2 1 3 1 8
US axilla Usually appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 12
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 2 2 7 5 2 0 0 1 0 1 0
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 9 3 0 2 1 0 0 1 0
Variant 11: Evaluation of unexplained axillary adenopathy. Silicone breast implants (current or prior). Age 40 years or older. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Mammography diagnostic Usually appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 9 9 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 2 11
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 9 9 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 12
US axilla Usually appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 10
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 2 2 7 5 2 0 0 1 0 1 0
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 9 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 0
Variant 12: Suspected breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) (delayed seroma, swelling, mass, pain but no erythema, warmth or skin changes that would raise concern for inflammatory breast cancer or mastitis). Any age. Breast implant of any type. Initial imaging.
Procedure Appropriateness Category SOE Adult RRL Peds RRL Rating Median Final Tabulations
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
US breast Usually appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 9 9 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 12
Mammography diagnostic May be appropriate (Disagreement) ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 5 5 0 0 2 2 6 4 1 0 1
MRI breast without and with IV contrast May be appropriate (Disagreement) O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 5 4 2 1 5 1 3 2 1 1 0
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic May be appropriate ☢☢ 0.1-1mSv 5 5 0 0 1 2 7 4 1 0 1
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually not appropriate O 0 mSv O 0 mSv [ped] 1 1 9 5 1 0 0 0 0 1 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.