Imaging of Invasive Breast Cancer

Variant: 1   Newly diagnosed. Clinical stage I-IIA (early stage) breast cancer at presentation. Evaluation for locoregional disease (includes invasive ductal carcinoma [IDC], or invasive lobular carcinoma [ILC], or not otherwise specified [NOS]).
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US breast Usually Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually Appropriate
US axilla May Be Appropriate
Mammography with IV contrast May Be Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Bone scan whole body 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   Newly diagnosed. Clinical stage I-IIA (early stage) breast cancer at presentation. Evaluation for distant disease (includes IDC, or ILC, or NOS).
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US axilla Usually Not Appropriate
US breast Usually Not Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Bone scan whole body 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   Newly diagnosed. Clinical stage IIB-III (late stage) breast cancer at presentation. Evaluation for locoregional disease (includes IDC, or ILC, or NOS).
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US axilla Usually Appropriate
US breast Usually Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Appropriate
Mammography with IV contrast May Be Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Bone scan whole body 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: 4   Newly diagnosed. Clinical stage IIB-III (late stage) breast cancer at presentation. Evaluation for distant disease. IDC or ILC that is ER+/HER2-.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
Bone scan whole body Usually Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis with IV contrast Usually Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Appropriate
US axilla Usually Not Appropriate
US breast Usually Not Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without 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: 5   Newly diagnosed. Clinical stage IIB-III (late stage) breast cancer at presentation. Evaluation for distant disease. IDC or ILC that is HER2+ or triple negative (ER, PR, and HER2-).
Procedure Appropriateness Category
Bone scan whole body Usually Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis with IV contrast Usually Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Appropriate
US axilla Usually Not Appropriate
US breast Usually Not Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI head without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI head without 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: 6   Surveillance. Regardless of clinical stage of breast cancer at time of original presentation. Evaluation for local recurrence in patient with history of BCT.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis screening Usually Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Appropriate
Mammography screening Usually Appropriate
Mammography with IV contrast May Be Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast May Be Appropriate
US breast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 7   Surveillance. Regardless of clinical stage of breast cancer at time of original presentation. Evaluation for local recurrence in patient with history of mastectomy.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
MRI breast without and with IV contrast May Be Appropriate
US breast Usually Not Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis screening Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography screening Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 8   Suspected local recurrence of breast cancer based on symptoms, physical examination, or laboratory value in patient with history of BCT. Regardless of clinical stage at time of original presentation.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US breast Usually Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Appropriate
Mammography with IV contrast May Be Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast May Be Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 9   Suspected local recurrence of breast cancer based on symptoms, physical examination, or laboratory value in patient with history of mastectomy. Regardless of clinical stage at time of original presentation.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US breast Usually Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI breast without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Not Appropriate
Variant: 10   Surveillance. Regardless of clinical stage of breast cancer at time of original presentation. Evaluation for distant metastatic disease.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
US axilla Usually Not Appropriate
Digital breast tomosynthesis diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
Mammography diagnostic Usually Not Appropriate
MRI head without and with IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
MRI head without IV contrast Usually Not Appropriate
Bone scan whole body 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: 11   Suspected distant recurrence of breast cancer based on symptoms, physical examination, or laboratory value. Regardless of clinical stage at time of original presentation.
Procedure Appropriateness Category
MRI head without and with IV contrast Usually Appropriate
Bone scan whole body Usually Appropriate
CT chest abdomen pelvis with IV contrast Usually Appropriate
FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh Usually Appropriate
MRI head without 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

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