ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Seizures and Epilepsy.

Journal Article

Seizures and epilepsy are a set of conditions that can be challenging to diagnose, treat, and manage. This document summarizes recommendations for imaging in different clinical scenarios for a patient presenting with seizures and epilepsy. MRI of the brain is usually appropriate for each clinical scenario described with the exception of known seizures and unchanged semiology (Variant 3). In this scenario, it is unclear if any imaging would provide a benefit to patients. In the emergent situation, a noncontrast CT of the head is also usually appropriate as it can diagnose or exclude emergent findings quickly and is an alternative to MRI of the brain in these clinical scenarios. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Expert Panel on Neurological Imaging, ; Lee, RK; Burns, J; Ajam, AA; Broder, JS; Chakraborty, S; Chong, ST; Kendi, AT; Ledbetter, LN; Liebeskind, DS; Pannell, JS; Pollock, JM; Rosenow, JM; Shaines, MD; Shih, RY; Slavin, K; Utukuri, PS; Corey, AS

Published Date

  • May 2020

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 17 / 5S

Start / End Page

  • S293 - S304

PubMed ID

  • 32370973

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1558-349X

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.jacr.2020.01.037

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States