ACR Appropriateness Criteria® definitive therapy for early-stage cervical cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The definitive treatment of early-stage cervical cancer involves multidisciplinary decision making. This expert panel was convened to reach consensus on the selection of appropriate therapies based on patient and disease characteristics at presentation.


METHODS
The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed every 2 years by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and review include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of a well-established consensus methodology (modified Delphi) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures by the panel. In those instances where evidence is lacking or not definitive, expert opinion may be used to recommend imaging or the treatment.


RESULTS
Three clinical variants were developed to represent common scenarios in the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer. Group members reached consensus on the appropriateness of therapeutic options. This process yielded numerical ratings and descriptive commentary.


CONCLUSIONS
This manuscript represents the consensus opinion of an expert panel based on a survey of all available medical literature. This manuscript may be used to inform the clinical decision making of physicians involved in the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer.
The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, USA.
William
W
Small
Jonathan B
JB
Strauss
Anuja
A
Jhingran
Catheryn M
CM
Yashar
Higinia R
HR
Cardenes
Beth A
BA
Erickson-Wittmann
Norleena
N
Gullett
Elizabeth
E
Kidd
Larissa J
LJ
Lee
Nina A
NA
Mayr
David
D
Moore
Ajmel A
AA
Puthawala
Gautam G
GG
Rao
Mahesh A
MA
Varia
Andrew O
AO
Wahl
Aaron H
AH
Wolfson
William
W
Yuh
David K
DK
Gaffney
D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011379:Prognosis; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy*