ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Head Trauma: 2021 Update

Head trauma (ie, head injury) is a significant public health concern and leading cause of morbidity mortality in children young adults. Neuroimaging plays an important role the management brain injury, which can be separated into acute (0–7 days), subacute (<3 months), then chronic (>3 months) phases. Over 75% classified as mild, over have normal Glasgow Coma Scale score 15, therefore clinical practice guidelines universally recommend selective CT scanning this patient population, often based on decision rules. While considered first-line imaging modality for suspected intracranial MRI useful when there are persistent neurologic deficits that remain unexplained after CT, especially or phase. Regardless time frame, with vascular injury cerebrospinal fluid leak should also evaluated angiography thin-section skull base, respectively.The American College Radiology Appropriateness Criteria evidence-based specific conditions reviewed annually by multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development revision include extensive analysis current medical literature from peer journals application well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Method Grading Recommendations Assessment, Development, Evaluation GRADE) to rate appropriateness treatment procedures scenarios. In those instances where evidence lacking equivocal, opinion may supplement available treatment.