Patient-Friendly Summary of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria: Pneumonia in the Immunocompetent Child

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Suspected Physical Abuse-Child.

The youngest children, particularly in the first year of life, are the most vulnerable to physical abuse. Skeletal survey is the universal screening examination in children 24 months of age and younger. Fractures occur in over half of abused children. Rib fractures may be the only abnormality in about 30%. A repeat limited skeletal survey after 2 weeks can detect additional fractures and can pr...

Patient-Friendly Summary of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria Acute Onset Flank Pain-Suspicion of Stone Disease (Urolithiasis).

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® acute respiratory illness in immunocompetent patients.

Acute respiratory illness is defined as one or more of the following: cough, sputum production, chest pain, or dyspnea (with or without fever). The workup of these patients depends on many factors, including clinical presentation and the suspected etiology. This study reviews the literature on the indications and usefulness of radiologic studies for the evaluation of acute respiratory illness i...

ACR appropriateness criteria jaundice.

A fundamental consideration in the workup of a jaundiced patient is the pretest probability of mechanical obstruction. Ultrasound is the first-line modality to exclude biliary tract obstruction. When mechanical obstruction is present, additional imaging with CT or MRI can clarify etiology, define level of obstruction, stage disease, and guide intervention. When mechanical obstruction is absent,...

ACR Appropriateness Criteria(®) myelopathy.

Myelopathy is a problem that requires imaging to distinguish among numerous specifically treatable causes. The first priority is to determine mechanical stability after trauma. Next, it is crucial to distinguish intrinsic disease from extrinsic compression-for example, by epidural abscess. Osteophytes or disc extrusions and metastatic compression are the most common causes of extrinsic lesions....