Spine Imaging Guidelines

Covers spine imaging — including cervical, thoracic and lumbar MRI and related advanced diagnostic studies — for evaluation of common spine-related symptoms and specific conditions such as neck/upper/lower back pain, radiculopathy/neuropathy, myelopathy, spondylolysis/spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, sacroiliac disease, pathological compression fractures, spinal deformity, and spinal involvement of cancer. Major limitations/requirements include an initial face‑to‑face clinical evaluation within 60 days (plus a plain x‑ray after the current episode), documentation of a recent six‑week trial of physician‑directed conservative therapy within three months with clinical re‑evaluation demonstrating failed improvement before advanced imaging, specific neuroanatomic documentation for neurological findings, and physician review for atypical presentations or simultaneous/duplicate studies.

"eviCore healthcare Clinical Decision Support Tool Diagnostic Strategies: This tool addresses common symptoms and symptom complexes."