title: ACR appropriateness Criteria® radiographically detected solitary pulmonary nodule.
abstract: The solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is a common medical problem for which management can be quite complex. Imaging remains at the center of management of SPNs, and computed tomography is the primary modality by which SPNs are characterized and followed up for stability. This manuscript summarizes the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria for radiographically detected solitary pulmonary nodules and briefly reviews the various imaging techniques available. 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 in which evidence is lacking or not definitive, expert opinion may be used to recommend imaging or treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kanne
authors.forename: Leif E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Tan-Lucien H
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: Jacobo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.forename: Judith K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Amorosa
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Jonathan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Debra Sue
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Dyer
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ginsburg
authors.forename: Darel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Heitkamp
authors.forename: Ella A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kazerooni
authors.forename: Loren H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ketai
authors.forename: J Anthony
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ravenel
authors.forename: Anthony G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.forename: Rakesh D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D011871:Radiology / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012955:Societies, Medical; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18