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Best Practice Advice
- Diagnostic Imaging for Low Back Pain: Advice for High-Value Health Care From the American College of Physicians
- ACP Best Practice Advice:
The ACP has found strong evidence that routine imaging for low back pain by using radiography or advanced imaging methods is not associated with a clinically meaningful effect on patient outcomes. Unnecessary imaging exposes patients to preventable harms, may lead to additional unnecessary interventions, and results in unnecessary costs. Diagnostic imaging studies should be performed only in selected, higher-risk patients who have severe or progressive neurologic deficits or are suspected of having a serious or specific underlying condition. Advanced imaging with MRI or CT should be reserved for patients with a suspected serious underlying condition or neurologic deficits, or who are candidates for invasive interventions. Decisions about repeated imaging should be based on development of new symptoms or changes in current symptoms. Patient education strategies should be used to inform patients about current and effective standards of care.
