General Safety Topics
The documents below provide recommendations from the American College of Radiology (ACR) for the training, skills, and techniques necessary to ensure the safe and efficient practice of radiology. Review the ACR’s position regarding quality and safety, equipment, and patient education in addition to practice guidelines and technical standards.
Position Statement on Quality Control and Improvement, Safety, Infection Control, and Patient Education Concerns
Radiation Safety
This list offers access to a variety of informative and instructional resources designed to assist radiologists in providing effective imaging and therapy while minimizing the risk during exposure to ionizing radiation.
ACR Reports and Statements
ACR Statement on Recent Studies Regarding CT Scans and Increased Cancer Risk
ACR White Paper on Radiation Dose in Medicine
ACR Statement on Whole Body CT Screening
ACR and American Society of Neuroradiology Statement on CT Protocols and Radiation Dose
ACR Practice Guidelines, Technical Standards and Appropriateness Criteria®
ACR Practice Guideline for Imaging Pregnant or Potentially Pregnant Adolescents and Women with Ionizing Radiation
ACR Practice Guideline for Diagnostic Reference Levels in Medical X-Ray Imaging
ACR Technical Standard for Management of the Use of Radiation in Fluoroscopic Procedures
ACR Technical Standard for Diagnostic Procedures Using Radiopharmaceuticals
ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Radiation Dose Assessment Introduction
Pediatric Radiation Safety
Image Gently™ - The Alliance for Radiation Safety
Radiation Risk to Children from Computed Tomography
National Cancer Institute – Radiation Risks and Pediatric Computed Tomography (CT): A Guide for Health Care Providers
National Quality Forum Safe Practices for Better Healthcare 2009 Update - A Consensus Report
Government Information
FDA Radiation Emitting Products
FDA Public Health Notification: Reducing Radiation Risk from Computed Tomography for Pediatric and Small Adult Patients
FDA: Whole Body Scanning, Using Computed Tomography
FDA: Radiation Injuries and Fluoroscopy
Patient Information
RadiologyInfo – The radiology information resource for patients – Radiation Exposure in X-ray Examinations
Image Gently™ - The Alliance for Radiation Safety
American Cancer Society – Radiation Exposure and Cancer
ACR Education Products
Case in Point – Radiation Dose Concerns
Self Assessment Module (SAM) Online: Patient Safety
ACR Quality Control Manuals
1999 ACR Mammography Quality Control Manual (order information)
1999 ACR Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Quality Control Manual (order information)
1998 ACR Barium Enema Quality Control Manual (order information)
Occupational Safety
Special Report: Occupational Health Hazards in the Interventional Laboratory: Time for a Safer Environment
Other Resources
The Joint Commission, Sentinel Event Policy and Procedures 2007
NCRP Report No. 160, Ionizing Radiation Exposure of the Population of the
United States Press Release
IAEA: Radiation Protection of Patients (RPoP)
Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors – National Evaluation of X-Ray Trends
MR Safety
The ACR created a multidisciplinary blue ribbon panel to address critical issues in MR safety. Initially published in the American Journal of Roentgenology in June 2002, updated in May 2004, and then markedly expanded and updated in March of 2007 (for June, 2007 publication in the AJR), the ACR Guidance Document for Safe MR Practices: 2007" addresses numerous MR safety related topics, such as:
- Static magnetic field-related issues such as translational and rotational forces on ferromagnetic materials
- Time-varying magnetic field-related issues such as induced voltage, auditory considerations, and thermal issues
- Personnel qualifications and training
- Site access restrictions
- Pregnancy-related issues
- Guidelines on claustrophobia, anxiety, sedation, analgesia, and anesthesia
- Contrast agent safety, including an entire new section and recommendations regarding Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis, renal disease patients, and gadolinium administration
- An entirely re-written section on the safety of MR scanning of device patients, such as patients with cardiac pacemakers, implanted auto-defibrillators, etc.
- MR siting considerations
- Emergency preparedness planning.
General
ACR Guidance Document on MR Safe Practices: 2007
MRI Quality Control Manual (2004) (order information)
Joint Commission Issues MRI Sentinel Event Alert
Institute for Magnetic Resonance Safety, Education, and Research
MRI Safety Web Site
Safety Screening Form for MR Procedures (Spanish Version)
MR Contrast Agents
Updated ACR Screening Recommendations on Gadolinium-Based MR Contrast Agents, Renal Disease Patients, and Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF)
Manual on Contrast Media
Initial FDA Public Health Advisory on Gadolinium containing Contrast Agents – 6/8/06
Secondary FDA Public Health Advisory on Gadolinium-containing Contrast Agents – 12/22/06
Latest FDA Public Health Advisory on Gadolinium-containing Contrast Agents – 5/23/07
The International Center for Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy Research (ICNFDR)
Patient Information
RadiologyInfo – The radiology information resource for patients – Safety Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Other Safety Topics
Below are several links providing safety recommendations for radiology-related procedures.
Contrast Media
Manual on Contrast Media
Clarifying Information for MM.4.10 and Oral Contrast Media
ACR Practice Guideline for the Use of Intravascular Contrast Media
Medications
JCAHO Approves Interim Provisions to Medication Management Standard 4.10
ACR Practice Guideline for Adult Sedation/Analgesia
ACR Practice Guideline for Pediatric Sedation/Analgesia
Miscellaneous
ACR Statement on Airport Full-body Scanners and Radiation
Joint Commission Notes for Imaging Facilities
FDA Preliminary Public Health Notification: Possible Malfunction of Electronic Medical Devices Caused by Computed Tomography (CT) Scanning