Variant 1: Minor or Mild Acute Closed Head Injury (GCS ≥ 13), Without Risk Factors or Neurologic Deficit*
| Radiologic Exam Procedure | Appropriateness Rating | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| CT, head, without contrast | 7 | Known to be low-yield |
| X-ray and/or CT, cervical spine | 5 | |
| MRI, head, without contrast | 4 | |
| CT, head, without and with contrast | 3 | |
| CTA, head and neck | 3 | Rarely indicated with mild trauma |
| CT, head, without and with contrast | 2 | |
| INV, cerebral angiography | 1 | |
| NUC, SPECT | 1 | |
| PET | 1 | |
| CT, head, xenon-enhanced | 1 | |
| US, transcranial Doppler | 1 |
Appropriateness Criteria Scale: 1 = least appropriate; 9 = most appropriate. CT, computed tomography; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; CTA, computed tomographic angiography; SPECT, single photon emission computed tomography; PET, positron emission tomography; US, ultrasound; MRA, magnetic resonance angiography; INV, invasive; fMRI, functional magnetic resonance imaging.
* Head Trauma: American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria for Neuroimaging.23