A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation Appropriate Use Criteria Task Force, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, American Heart Association, American Society of Echocardiography, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Heart Failure Society of America, Heart Rhythm Society, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons Technical Panel Pamela S. Douglas, MD, MACC, FAHA, FASE, Moderator Manesh R. Patel, MD, FACC, Writing Group Liaison Steven R. Bailey, MD, FACC, FSCAI, FAHA, Writing Group Liaison Philip Altus, MD, MACPdaggerAmerican College of Physicians Representative Denise D. Barnard, MD, FACCdouble daggerHeart Failure Society of America Representative James C. Blankenship, MD, MACC, FSCAI* Donald E. Casey, Jr, MD, MPH, MBA, FACP, FAHAdagger Larry S. Dean, MD, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI* Reza Fazel, MD, MSc, FACC§American Society of Nuclear Cardiology Representative Ian C. Gilchrist, MD, FACC, FSCAI, FCCM||Society of Critical Care Medicine Representative Clifford J. Kavinsky, MD, PhD, FACC, FSCAI* Susan G. Lakoski, MD, MS¶American Heart Association Representative D. Elizabeth Le, MD, FACC, FASE#American Society of Echocardiography Representative John R. Lesser, MD, FACC, FSCAI, FSCCT**Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography Representative Glenn N. Levine, MD, FACC, FAHAdaggerdaggerSociety for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Representative Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC, FACP, FCCP, FESC, FAHA, FSCAIdouble daggerdouble daggerAmerican College of Cardiology Foundation Representative Andrea M. Russo, MD, FACC, FHRS§§Heart Rhythm Society Representative Matthew J. Sorrentino, MD, FACCdouble daggerdouble dagger Mathew R. Williams, MD, FACC|||American Association for Thoracic Surgery/Society of Thoracic Surgeons Representative John B. Wong, MD, FACPdouble daggerdouble dagger Appropriate Use Criteria Task Force Michael J. Wolk, MD, MACC, Chair Steven R. Bailey, MD, FACC, FSCAI, FAHA Pamela S. Douglas, MD, MACC, FAHA, FASE Robert C. Hendel, MD, FACC, FAHA, FASNC Christopher M. Kramer, MD, FACC, FAHA James K. Min, MD, FACC Manesh R. Patel, MD, FACC Leslee Shaw, PhD, FACC, FASNC Raymond F. Stainback, MD, FACC, FASE Joseph M. Allen, MA Table of Contents Abstract... Preface In an effort to respond to the need for the rational use of cardiovascular services, including imaging and invasive procedures in the delivery of high-quality care, the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) in collaboration with other professional organizations has undertaken a process to determine the appropriate use of cardiovascular procedures for selected patient indications.