ACR Appropriateness Criteria®

The ACR Appropriateness Criteria® are evidence-based guidelines to assist referring physicians and other providers in making the most appropriate imaging or treatment decision for a specific clinical condition. By employing these guidelines, providers enhance quality of care and contribute to the most efficacious use of radiology.

The guidelines are developed by expert panels in diagnostic imaging, interventional radiology, and radiation oncology. Each panel includes leaders in radiology and other specialties. There are more than 175 topics with over 850 variants in the March 2011 version.

The ACR Appropriateness Criteria Webpage

Link to the ACR Appropriateness Criteria Search Engine

Some Common Injury/Illness Appropriateness Criteria Documents:

Neurological

Cerebrovascular Disease

Headache

Low Back Pain

Neuroendocrine Imaging

Vertigo and Hearing Loss

Musculoskeletal Imaging

Acute Shoulder Pain

Acute Trauma to the Knee*

Chronic Ankle Pain

Chronic Neck Pain

Metastatic Bone Disease

Nontraumatic Knee Pain*

Soft Tissue Masses

Stress (Fatigue/Insufficiency) Fracture, Including Sacrum, Excluding Other Vertebrae

Suspected Osteomyelitis of the Foot in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Vascular

Claudication — Suspected Vascular Etiology

Follow-up of Lower Extremity Arterial Bypass Surgery

Recurrent Symptoms Following Lower Extremity Angioplasty

Sudden Onset of Cold, Painful Leg

*This topic also includes pediatric imaging recommendations