IMAGING INDICATION GUIDELINES Your partner in outpatient radiology We are dedicated to achieving the highest levels of quality and safety in outpatient imaging. We developed these Imaging Indication Guidelines to help you choose imaging examinations that will answer your clinical questions for your patients. We hope they will assist you in the pre-authorization and Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria processes. Quality Convenience Affordability High quality reports Appointments when and Reduce your out-of-pocket and equipment where you need them imaging cost 2 | IMAGING INDICATION GUIDELINES Notes IMAGING INDICATION GUIDELINES | 3 Notes 4 | IMAGING INDICATION GUIDELINES We are dedicated to achieving the highest levels of quality and safety, and have developed these Imaging Indication Guidelines to provide information and guidance during the radiology ordering process. General Contrast Guidelines Choose “Radiologist Discretion” on the order and our board certified radiologists will select the contrast option suited to your patient’s history and condition. This will facilitate thepre -authorization process. Generally, contrast is indicated whenever you are concerned about: • Infection (except uncomplicated sinusitis) • Organ integrity • Tumor or cancer • Possible disc after lumbar surgery • Vascular abnormality (except stroke) Generally, contrasted MRI scans are performed with and without contrast. Generally, CT scans are performed either with or without contrast in order to limit the patient’s radiation dose. Without & with contrast CT scans are indicated for these conditions: • Thoracic aortic dissection • Kidney mass • Liver mass • Painless hematuria • Pancreas mass • Bladder mass • Adrenal gland mass Exams Commonly Confused: • Cervical CT or MRI (for vs. Soft tissue neck CT or MRI (for soft cervical spine) tissue, e.g. lymph nodes) • Cervical CT or MRI (for suspected vs. Shoulder CT or MRI (for suspected cervical spine cause of arm pain) shoulder cause of arm pain) • Abdomen CT or MRI (covers vs. Pelvis CT or MRI (covers iliac crests diaphragm to iliac crests) to pubic symphysis) • Transabdominal pelvic ultrasound vs. Transvaginal pelvic ultrasound (US (US probe on abdomen) probe in vagina) • Ankle CT, MRI, or X-ray (looks at vs. Foot CT, MRI, or X-ray (looks at distal tibia, fibula, talus, calcaneus) tarsals, metatarsals, toes) • Lower extremity arterial Doppler vs. Ankle Brachial Index-ABI (only ABI) ultrasound (includes arterial waveforms & Doppler, with or without ABI) IMAGING INDICATION GUIDELINES | 5 Abdomen & Pelvis Clinical Problem Preferred Study Comments Dysphagia Barium esophagram with oral If retrosternal dysphagia, endoscopy also an contrast excellent diagnostic test Gastroesophageal reflux Barium esophagram with oral Order to evaluate anatomy, not to diagnose contrast reflux Abdominal pain: US abdomen If amylase and lipase equivocal or if critically ill, increased amylase and consider CT abdomen & pelvis with IV contrast, lipase radiologist decides if oral contrast Abdominal pain: CT abdomen & pelvis with oral If pregnant, consider US or MRI abdomen & non-focal contrast and with IV contrast (if pelvis without IV contrast febrile) or without IV contrast (if afebrile) Abdominal pain: right US abdomen If US negative or equivocal, consider CT upper quadrant abdomen with IV and oral contrast or MRI abdomen with MRCP without & with IV contrast (with IV contrast is optional). Tc-99m cholescintigraphy also appropriate if febrile with elevated WBC Abdominal pain: right CT abdomen & pelvis with IV If a child, consider US RLQ / If pregnant, lower quadrant contrast, radiologist decides if oral consider US or MRI abdomen & pelvis without contrast IV contrast Abdominal pain: left CT abdomen & pelvis with IV and lower quadrant oral contrast Abdominal mass: CT abdomen with IV and oral If suspect abdominal wall mass, MRI abdomen palpable contrast or US abdomen without & with IV contrast also appropriate Cancer patient CT abdomen & pelvis with IV and Consider Chest CT with IV contrast if lung oral contrast metastasis common / MRI abdomen & pelvis without & with IV contrast is alternative to CT abdomen & pelvis / If hereditary renal cancer, consider without & with IV contrast / If bladder cancer, consider CT urography Blunt trauma: clinically CT abdomen & pelvis with IV Also consider CT chest with IV contrast based stable contrast, radiologist decides if oral on mechanism of injury / If thoracic aortic injury contrast suspected, consider CTA chest with IV contrast Jaundice MRI abdomen with MRCP without & with IV contrast or CT abdomen with IV contrast (radiologist decides if oral contrast) or US abdomen Liver — screening CT abdomen with IV contrast If screening for hepatocellular carcinoma and no for hepatocellular (radiologist decides if oral contrast) prior cancer, US abdomen also appropriate carcinoma in chronic or MRI abdomen without & with liver disease or suspect contrast metastases The information provided in this guide is not intended to be a substitute for a licensed radiologist’s recommendation.The material provided is strictly an informative guideline for the most probable scan ordered. Specific questions should be directed to the radiologist or the imaging technologist. Our radiologists reserve the right to recommend an alternative exam based on the patient clinical history and diagnosis provided by the ordering provider. 6 | IMAGING INDICATION GUIDELINES Abdomen & Pelvis Clinical Problem Preferred Study Comments Suspect small bowel CT abdomen & pelvis with IV If high-grade obstruction suspected, avoid oral obstruction contrast, radiologist decides contrast / If intermittent or low-grade obstruction if oral contrast suspected, consider CT or MRI enteroclysis (neutral contrast by NG tube) Crohn’s disease CT abdomen & pelvis with Consider MRI enterography if nonacute presentation IV and oral contrast or CT or a child / Enterography uses neutral contrast by enterography mouth (enteroclysis uses neutral contrast by NG tube) Upper or Lower GI Endoscopy is recommended If endoscopy negative or cannot be performed, bleeding rather than imaging consider angiography (CT or catheter)/ If endoscopy and angiography negative for lower GI bleeding, consider 99mTc-labeled RBC scan abdomen Painful hematuria, r/o CT abdomen & pelvis without If recurrent stone disease, consider US kidneys & kidney stone IV or oral contrast bladder with X-ray KUB to decrease overall radiation dose to patient/ If pregnant, consider US kidneys & bladder Painless hematuria CT abdomen & pelvis without If hematuria due to renal parenchymal disease, and with IV contrast, without consider US kidneys & bladder / If child and oral contrast (CT urography) macroscopic hematuria or proteinuria, US kidneys & bladder / Imaging not indicated if hematuria clears with therapy, cessation of vigorous exercise or after urologic procedure (e.g. catheterization) Acute pyelonephritis CT abdomen & pelvis with IV Imaging not indicated for uncomplicated patient in complicated patient contrast (preferred) or without with acute pyelonephritis (eg, diabetes, stones, & with IV contrast—both prior renal surgery, not without oral contrast responding to therapy, immunocompromised) Recurrent lower urinary CT abdomen & pelvis without Imaging not indicated for uncomplicated patient tract infections in & with IV contrast (CT with UTI / If child with atypical or recurrent febrile women with frequent Urogram), oral contrast only if UTI, consider US kidneys & bladder reinfections, risk factors suspect enterovesical fistula or no response to conventional therapy Chronic kidney disease US kidneys & bladder Hypertension — high MR Angiogram abdomen If eGFR less than 30, consider US duplex Doppler suspicion of renovascular without & with IV contrast or kidney / Imaging not indicated for hypertension well hypertension (e.g. failure CT Angiogram abdomen with managed with medical therapy of medical therapy, IV contrast progressive renal failure, young patient) The information provided in this guide is not intended to be a substitute for a licensed radiologist’s recommendation.The material provided is strictly an informative guideline for the most probable scan ordered. Specific questions should be directed to the radiologist or the imaging technologist. Our radiologists reserve the right to recommend an alternative exam based on the patient clinical history and diagnosis provided by the ordering provider. IMAGING INDICATION GUIDELINES | 7 Abdomen & Pelvis Clinical Problem Preferred Study Comments Acute scrotal pain without US duplex Doppler scrotum trauma Hematospermia US pelvis (prostate) transrectal — Imaging not indicated if less than 40 yo, see comments transient or episodic hematospermia & no other signs or symptoms Clinically suspected US pelvis (prostate) transrectal — prostate cancer guided biopsy Abdominal aortic aneurysm CT Angiogram abdomen & pelvis If screening, consider US aorta abdomen / — planning repair and with IV contrast If thoracic aorta involved, consider adding follow-up after repair CTA chest with IV contrast Abnormal vaginal bleeding US pelvis transvaginal Consider adding US pelvis transabdominal- — initial evaluation -gives widerfi eld of view & evaluates adjacent organs/ If transvaginal probe cannot be tolerated, consider US pelvis transabdominal Possible ectopic pregnancy US pelvis transabdominal & Both transabdominal and transvaginal transvaginal US should be performed if possible Pelvic pain: woman with US pelvis transabdominal & Both transabdominal and transvaginal