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 lumbar, neck or back pain, with or without fever, immunocompromised, initial imaging

3194562

MRI cervical and lumbar spine without and with IV contrast

0 mSv
O

0 mSv [ped]
O

Usually appropriate

MRI cervical and lumbar spine without IV contrast

0 mSv
O

0 mSv [ped]
O

Usually appropriate

Radiography cervical and lumbar spine

1-10 mSv
☢☢☢

May be appropriate

3-phase bone scan complete spine

1-10 mSv
☢☢☢

May be appropriate

CT cervical and lumbar spine with IV contrast

1-10 mSv
☢☢☢

May be appropriate

CT cervical and lumbar spine without IV contrast

1-10 mSv
☢☢☢

May be appropriate

Gallium scan whole body

10-30 mSv
☢☢☢☢

May be appropriate

MRI cervical and lumbar spine with IV contrast

0 mSv
O

0 mSv [ped]
O

Usually not appropriate

CT cervical and lumbar 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