American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria

(CPG) series provides an overview of one CPG each month. The overview includes a brief summary of the guideline's content, as well as the identification of some factors by which the author has critiqued it. The first article in the series reviewed the steps of CPG critique. Subsequent columns have described CPGs related to viral upper respiratory illnesses, tobacco dependence, menopause and perimenopause, and musculoskeletal evaluation. The document described in this month's clinical practice guideline column is actually a set of recommendations ranking the appropriateness of specific radiologic imaging or therapeutic options for particular conditions or presentations. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria provides a very valuable resource when ordering diagnostic imaging procedures.