ACR AC Portal

Home Suspected Spine Infection

Variants

Suspected spine infection (such as epidural abscess or discitis osteomyelitis), with new or worsening back or neck pain, with or without fever, who may have one or more of the following red flags (diabetes mellitus, IV drug use, cancer, HIV, or dialysis) or abnormal lab values. Initial imaging.

Documents

Scenario

Scenario ID

Procedure

Adult RRL

Peds RRL

Appropriateness Category

Spine infection suspected, cervical and thoracic, neck or back pain, with or without fever, abnormal labs, initial imaging

3194553

MRI cervical and thoracic spine without and with IV contrast

0 mSv
O

0 mSv [ped]
O

Usually appropriate

MRI cervical and thoracic spine without IV contrast

0 mSv
O

0 mSv [ped]
O

Usually appropriate

Radiography cervical and thoracic spine

1-10 mSv
☢☢☢

May be appropriate

3-phase bone scan complete spine

1-10 mSv
☢☢☢

May be appropriate

CT cervical and thoracic spine with IV contrast

10-30 mSv
☢☢☢☢

May be appropriate

CT cervical and thoracic spine without IV contrast

10-30 mSv
☢☢☢☢

May be appropriate

Gallium scan whole body

10-30 mSv
☢☢☢☢

May be appropriate

MRI cervical and thoracic spine with IV contrast

0 mSv
O

0 mSv [ped]
O

Usually not appropriate

CT cervical and thoracic spine without and with IV contrast

10-30 mSv
☢☢☢☢

Usually not appropriate

FDG-PET/CT whole body

10-30 mSv
☢☢☢☢

3-10 mSv [ped]
☢☢☢☢

Usually not appropriate

WBC scan and sulfur colloid scan complete spine

10-30 mSv
☢☢☢☢

Usually not appropriate