ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Cervical Neck Pain or Cervical Radiculopathy

Publication date: May 2019Source: Journal of the American College of Radiology, Volume 16, Issue 5, SupplementAuthor(s): Expert Panel on Neurological Imaging:, Marin A. McDonald, Claudia F.E. Kirsch, Beejal Y. Amin, Joseph M. Aulino, Angela M. Bell, R. Carter Cassidy, Santanu Chakraborty, Asim F. Choudhri, Seth Gemme, Ryan K. Lee, Michael D. Luttrull, Darlene F. Metter, Toshio Moritani, Charles Reitman, Lubdha M. Shah, Aseem Sharma, Robert Y. Shih, Laura A. Snyder, Sophia C. Symko, Ralf ThieleAbstractNontraumatic neck pain is a leading cause of disability, with nearly 50% of individuals experiencing ongoing or recurrent symptoms. Radiographs are appropriate as initial imaging for cervical or neck pain in the absence of “red flag” symptoms or if there are unchanging chronic symptoms; however, spondylotic changes are commonly identified and may result in both false-positive and false-negative findings. Noncontrast CT can be complementary to radiographs for evaluation of new or changing symptoms in the setting of prior cervical spine surgery or in the assessment of extent of ossification in the posterior longitudinal ligament. Noncontrast MRI is usually appropriate for assessment of new or increasing radiculopathy due to improved nerve root definition. MRI without and with contrast is usually appropriate in patients with new or increasing cervical or neck pain or radiculopathy in the setting of suspected infection or known malignancy. Imaging may be appropriate; however, it ...
Source: Journal of the American College of Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: research