ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Liver Lesion-Initial Characterization.

Incidental liver masses are commonly identified on imaging performed for other indications. Since the prevalence of benign focal liver lesions in adults is high, even in patients with primary malignancy, accurate characterization of incidentally detected lesions is of paramount clinical importance. This document reviews utilization of various imaging modalities for characterization of incidentally detected liver lesions, discussed in the context of several clinical scenarios. For each clinical scenario, a summary of current evidence supporting the use of a given diagnostic modality is reported. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Pancreatic Cyst.

Incidental pancreatic cysts are increasingly detected on imaging studies performed for unrelated indications and may be incompletely characterized on these studies. Adequate morphological characterization is critical due to the small risk of malignant degeneration associated with neoplastic pancreatic cysts, as well as the risk of associated pancreatic adenocarcinoma. For all pancreatic cysts, both size and morphology determine management. Specifically, imaging detection of features, such as pancreatic ductal communication and presence or absence of worrisome features or high-risk stigmata, have important management implications. The recommendations in this publication determine the appropriate initial imaging study to further evaluate a pancreatic cyst that was incidentally detected on a nondedicated imaging study. The recommendations are designed to maximize the yield of diagnostic information in order to better risk-stratify pancreatic cysts and assist in guiding future management. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Chronic Liver Disease.

The liver fibrosis stage is the most important clinical determinate of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic liver diseases. With newer therapies, liver fibrosis can be stabilized and possibly reversed, thus accurate diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis are clinically important. Ultrasound, CT, and conventional MRI can be used to establish the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis but have limited utility for assessing earlier stages of fibrosis. Elastography-based ultrasound and MRI techniques are more useful for assessment of precirrhotic hepatic fibrosis. In patients with advanced fibrosis at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), ultrasound is the surveillance modality recommended by international guidelines in nearly all circumstances. However, in patients in whom ultrasound does not assess the liver well, including those with severe steatosis or obesity, multiphase CT or MRI may have a role in surveillance for HCC. Both multiphase CT and MRI can be used for continued surveillance in patients with a history of HCC, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound may have an emerging role in this setting. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Jaundice.

Jaundice is the end result of myriad causes, which makes the role of imaging in this setting particularly challenging. In the United States, the most common causes of all types of jaundice fall into four categories including hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, blockage of the common bile duct by a gallstone or tumor, and toxic reaction to a drug or medicinal herb. Clinically, differentiating between the various potential etiologies of jaundice requires a detailed history, targeted physical examination, and pertinent laboratory studies, the results of which allow the physician to categorize the type of jaundice into mechanical or nonmechanical causes. Imaging modalities used to evaluate the jaundiced patient (all etiologies) include abdominal ultrasound (US), CT, MR cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic US. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Right Upper Quadrant Pain.

Although right upper quadrant pain is a very common clinical presentation, it can be nonspecific. However, acute cholecystitis is very often the diagnosis of exclusion. This review focuses on the recommended imaging evaluation in the most commonly encountered clinical scenarios presenting with right upper quadrant abdominal pain, including suspected biliary disease, suspected acute cholecystitis, and suspected acalculous cholecystitis. This document hopes to clarify the appropriate utilization of the many imaging procedures that are available and commonly employed in these clinical settings. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Staging of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is associated with poor overall prognosis. Complete surgical resection is the only possible option for cure. As such, increasingly complex surgical techniques including sophisticated vascular reconstruction are being used. Continued advances in surgical techniques, in conjunction with use of combination systemic therapies, and radiation therapy have been suggested to improve outcomes. A key aspect to surgical success is reporting of pivotal findings beyond absence of distant metastases, such as tumor size, location, and degree of tumor involvement of specific vessels associated with potential perineural tumor spread. Multiphase contrast-enhanced multidetector CT and MRI are the imaging modalities of choice for pretreatment staging and presurgical determination of resectability. Imaging modalities such as endoscopic ultrasound and fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose imaging with PET/CT are indicated for specific scenarios such as biopsy guidance and confirmation of distant metastases, respectively. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.