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Structured reporting and quality control in CT colonography

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Abstract

Standardized recommended techniques for performing and reporting CT colonography (CTC) examinations were developed by a consensus of experts. Published reporting guidelines, known as the CT colonography reporting and data system supplemented by recently updated comprehensive recommendations were incorporated into the American College of Radiology (ACR) practice guidelines. The application of continuous quality improvement to the practice of CT was aided by the development of an ACR national data registry (NRDR) for CTC that addressed both process and outcome quality measures. These measures can be used to benchmark an institution’s CTC practice as compared to all participants. This article will discuss the best practices for reporting CTC and describe the use of NRDR to foster quality CTC performance.

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Abbreviations

ABR:

American Board of Radiology

ACR:

American College of Radiology

CTC:

CT colonography

CTDIvol:

Volume CT dose index

ECFs:

Extracolonic findings

OC:

Optical colonoscopy

PACS:

Picture archiving and communication system

PDSA:

Plan, Do, Study, Act

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the members of the ACR CT colonography committee and staff of the ACR NRDR database.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Chicago Medicine, 5841 S. Maryland Ave. MC 2026, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Abraham H. Dachman

  2. SUNY Stony Brook, HSC Level 4, Rm 120, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-8460, USA

    Matthew A. Barish

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  1. Abraham H. Dachman
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  2. Matthew A. Barish
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Correspondence to Abraham H. Dachman.

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No funding was received for this study.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Dachman, A.H., Barish, M.A. Structured reporting and quality control in CT colonography. Abdom Radiol 43, 566–573 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-018-1456-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-018-1456-9

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