ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Palpable Abdominal Mass-Suspected Neoplasm

Publication date: November 2019Source: Journal of the American College of Radiology, Volume 16, Issue 11, SupplementAuthor(s): Expert Panel on Gastrointestinal Imaging, Kathryn J. Fowler, Evelyn M. Garcia, David H. Kim, Brooks D. Cash, Kevin J. Chang, Barry W. Feig, Kenneth L. Gage, Avinash R. Kambadakone, Angela D. Levy, Peter S. Liu, Daniele Marin, Courtney Moreno, Christine M. Peterson, Jason A. Pietryga, Martin P. Smith, Laura R. CarucciAbstractPalpable abdominal masses may arise from the abdominal cavity or the abdominal wall. The differential diagnosis is broad for each variant ranging from benign lipomas, inflammatory processes, to malignant tumors. The imaging approach to diagnosis varies by location. For intra-abdominal masses, contrast-enhanced CT and ultrasound examination have demonstrated accuracy. For abdominal wall masses, which may arise from muscle, subcutaneous tissue, or connective tissue, MRI, CT, and ultrasound all provide diagnostic value. This publication reviews the current evidence supporting the imaging approach to diagnosis of palpable abdominal masses for two variants: suspected intra-abdominal neoplasm and suspected abdominal wall masses.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 an...
Source: Journal of the American College of Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: research