Common Radiology Exams by Suspected Diagnosis
Radiology Section Editors: Jennifer Huang, MD and Anthony Micetich, MD
Reviewed by Reza Imani, MD
Musculoskeletal
| Fracture | X-rays, CT (extremity) without contrast |
| Soft tissue infection | CT (extremity) with contrast MRI (extremity) with and without contrast |
| Osteomyelitis | X-ray (extremity) MRI (extremity) with and without contrast |
| Bone or soft tissue tumors | MRI (extremity) with and without contrast |
| DVT | Ultrasound doppler (extremity) venous (laterality) |
Chest
| Pulmonary embolism | CT angiogram chest pulmonary embolism with contrast |
| Lung mass, metastases | CT chest with contrast |
| Pulmonary nodule | CT chest without contrast |
| Pneumothorax | X-ray chest portable (or 2 view), SPECIFY UPRIGHT |
| Acute aortic syndrome | CT angiogram aorta without and with contrast |
Abdomen/Pelvic
| Cholecystitis | Ultrasound abdomen limited (specify cholecystitis) |
| Pancreatitis | CT abdomen pelvis with contrast |
| Appendicitis | CT abdomen pelvis with contrast |
| Bowel obstruction | CT abdomen with contrast, specify HCC in comments MRI abdomen with contrast, specify HCC in comments |
| Mesenteric ischemia/AAA | CT angiogram abdomen and pelvis |
| Crohn’s/IBD | CT abdomen pelvis enterography with contrast |
Neurologic
| Brain mass/metastases | MRI brain with and without IV contrast |
| Stroke | MRI brain without contrast |
| Multiple sclerosis | MRI brain with and without contrast |
| Aneurysm or vascular injury | CT angiogram head and neck with and without contrast |
| Dural venous sinus thrombosis | CT venogram head |
| Intracranial hemorrhage | CT head without contrast |
| Spine trauma | CT (c/t/l) spine without contrast, MRI spine wo contrast |
| Spine tumor, infection, post-op | MRI (C/T/L) spine with and without contrast |
Urogenital
| Ovarian/testicular torsion | Ultrasound scrotal with complete doppler Ultrasound pelvic transvaginal |
| Ectopic pregnancy | Ultrasound transvaginal and pelvic |
| Kidney stones | Ultrasound renal CT abdomen pelvis without contrast |
| Pyelonephritis | Ultrasound renal CT abdomen pelvis with contrast |
See ACR appropriateness criteria for additional Information.