Imaging of the Axilla

Variant: 1   Female. New palpable, unilateral, axillary lump. Initial imaging of the axilla.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US axilla Usually Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic May Be Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic May Be Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Sestamibi MBI Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 2   Female. New palpable, bilateral, axillary lump. Initial imaging of the axilla.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US axilla Usually Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Sestamibi MBI Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 3   Female. Newly diagnosed breast cancer, 2 cm or less, with clinical node-negative. Initial imaging of the axilla following diagnostic mammography or DBT.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US axilla May Be Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Sestamibi MBI Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 4   Female. Newly diagnosed breast cancer, 2 cm or less, with clinical node-positive. Initial imaging of the axilla following diagnostic mammography or DBT.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US axilla Usually Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast May Be Appropriate (Disagreement)
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Sestamibi MBI Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 5   Female. Newly diagnosed breast cancer, greater than 2 cm, with clinical node-negative. Initial imaging of the axilla following diagnostic mammography or DBT.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US axilla May Be Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast May Be Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Sestamibi MBI Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 6   Female. Newly diagnosed breast cancer, greater than 2 cm, with clinical node-positive. Initial imaging of the axilla following diagnostic mammography or DBT (prior to treatment).
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US axilla Usually Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast May Be Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis with IV contrast May Be Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh May Be Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Sestamibi MBI Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 7   Female. Breast cancer, greater than 2 cm in size, at mid-treatment of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with initial clinical node-negative disease but now presenting with new palpable axillary lump. Imaging of the axilla at mid-treatment.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US axilla Usually Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Sestamibi MBI Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 8   Female. Breast cancer, greater than 2 cm in size, clinical node-negative. Imaging of the axilla after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US axilla May Be Appropriate (Disagreement)
MRI breast without and with IV contrast May Be Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Sestamibi MBI Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 9   Female. Breast cancer, greater than 2 cm in size, clinical node-positive. Imaging of the axilla after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and prior to surgery.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US axilla Usually Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast May Be Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Sestamibi MBI Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 10   Female. Newly diagnosed locally recurrent breast cancer. Initial imaging of the axilla following diagnostic mammography or DBT.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US axilla May Be Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast May Be Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh May Be Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Sestamibi MBI Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 11   Female. Suspicious axillary node on mammography or ultrasound. Next imaging study.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US-guided core biopsy axillary node Usually Appropriate
US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy axillary node Usually Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast May Be Appropriate (Disagreement)
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Sestamibi MBI Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 12   Female. Suspicious axillary node on any other imaging modality (excluding mammography and ultrasound). Next imaging study.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US axilla Usually Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Appropriate
US-guided core biopsy axillary node May Be Appropriate (Disagreement)
US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy axillary node May Be Appropriate

The evidence table, literature search, and appendix for this topic are available at https://acsearch.acr.org/list. The appendix includes the strength of evidence assessment and the final rating round tabulations for each recommendation.

For additional information on the Appropriateness Criteria methodology and other supporting documents, please go to the ACR website at https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Clinical-Tools-and-Reference/Appropriateness-Criteria.

Appropriateness Category Name

Appropriateness Rating

Appropriateness Category Definition

Usually Appropriate

7, 8, or 9

The imaging procedure or treatment is indicated in the specified clinical scenarios at a favorable risk-benefit ratio for patients.

May Be Appropriate

4, 5, or 6

The imaging procedure or treatment may be indicated in the specified clinical scenarios as an alternative to imaging procedures or treatments with a more favorable risk-benefit ratio, or the risk-benefit ratio for patients is equivocal.

May Be Appropriate (Disagreement)

5

The individual ratings are too dispersed from the panel median. The different label provides transparency regarding the panel’s recommendation. “May be appropriate” is the rating category and a rating of 5 is assigned.

Usually Not Appropriate

1, 2, or 3

The imaging procedure or treatment is unlikely to be indicated in the specified clinical scenarios, or the risk-benefit ratio for patients is likely to be unfavorable.







































































































































































The ACR Committee on Appropriateness Criteria and its expert panels have developed criteria for determining appropriate imaging examinations for diagnosis and treatment of specified medical condition(s). These criteria are intended to guide radiologists, radiation oncologists and referring physicians in making decisions regarding radiologic imaging and treatment. Generally, the complexity and severity of a patient’s clinical condition should dictate the selection of appropriate imaging procedures or treatments. Only those examinations generally used for evaluation of the patient’s condition are ranked.  Other imaging studies necessary to evaluate other co-existent diseases or other medical consequences of this condition are not considered in this document.  The availability of equipment or personnel may influence the selection of appropriate imaging procedures or treatments. Imaging techniques classified as investigational by the FDA have not been considered in developing these criteria; however, study of new equipment and applications should be encouraged.  The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any specific radiologic examination or treatment must be made by the referring physician and radiologist in light of all the circumstances presented in an individual examination