ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Nontraumatic Aortic Disease

J Am Coll Radiol. 2021 May;18(5S):S106-S118. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2021.02.004.

Abstract

Nontraumatic aortic disease can be caused by a wide variety of disorders including congenital, inflammatory, infectious, metabolic, neoplastic, and degenerative processes. Imaging examinations such as radiography, ultrasound, echocardiography, catheter-based angiography, CT, MRI, and nuclear medicine examinations are essential for diagnosis, treatment planning, and assessment of therapeutic response. Depending upon the clinical scenario, each of these modalities has strengths and weaknesses. Whenever possible, the selection of a diagnostic imaging examination should be based upon the best available evidence. 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. The purpose of this document is to assist physicians select the most appropriate diagnostic imaging examination for nontraumatic aortic diseases.

Keywords: AUC; Aorta; Aortic atherosclerosis; Aortic infection; Aortic inflammation; Aortic neoplasm; Appropriate Use Criteria; Appropriateness Criteria; Congenital aortic.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Radiography
  • Societies, Medical*
  • United States