Publication - Advice and guidance
Coronavirus (COVID-19): supporting elective care – clinical prioritisation of imaging examinations
The framework provides a standardised national process for the clinical prioritisation of patients who have been referred for a diagnostic imaging test.
Imaging clinical prioritisation – CT categories
Priority 1
| USOC | Cancer pathway | Urgent | |
| Neurology | USOC Primary staging |
Tumour treatment assessment | First seizure Infection FU |
| ENT | USOC Primary staging |
Tumour treatment assessment | Suspected infection Stridor Assessment of epistaxis Unilateral sinonasal lesions |
| Respiratory | USOC Primary staging |
Tumour treatment assessment | |
| GI/HPBe | USOC Primary staging |
Tumour treatment assessment | Symptomatic IBD |
| Urology | USOC Primary staging |
Tumour treatment assessment | CT IVU for new haematuria or hydronephrosis Initial assessment of complex renal cyst |
| Gynae | USOC Primary staging |
Tumour treatment assessment | |
| MSK | USOC Primary staging |
Tumour treatment assessment | Acute trauma where imaging alters management Infection |
| Vascular | Critical or acute limb ischaemia Carotid stenosis assessment for endarterectomy |
Priority 2
| Routine non-cancer | Cancer surveillance | |
| Neurology | Recurrent seizures Aneurysms and AVM FU JC positive Headache |
Routine surveillance |
| ENT | Throat pain (no red flags) Sinus infection/polyps 4D CT for parathyroid Cholesteatoma |
Routine surveillance |
| Respiratory | ILD to determine treatment | Routine surveillance First nodule FU scan |
| GI/HPBe | Non-severe weight loss, CIBH Pancreatitis FU Cirrhosis staging |
Routine surveillance |
| Urology | Bosniak cyst surveillance Adrenal characterisation |
Routine surveillance |
| Gynae | Routine surveillance | |
| MSK | Assess fracture healing | Routine surveillance |
| Vascular | EVAR or other graft follow up Acute vasculitis |
Priority 3
| Non-urgent non-cancer | |
| Neurology | |
| ENT | SCC dehiscence |
| Respiratory | 2nd or subsequent nodule FU scan ILD FU |
| GI/HPBe | New diagnosis of diabetes |
| Urology | CT for stone burden CT IVU for anatomy Adrenal nodule FU |
| Gynae | |
| MSK | Leg length Prosthesis position |
| Vascular | Thoracic outlet syndrome Stable claudication Low risk chest pain (CT coronary artery) |
Contact
Waiting Times Team: WTIP@gov.scot
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