SIRM
Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology
Second list - Infants and children
released: 1 November 2021
last updated: 1 January 2026
How this list was created
In occasion of the Executive Board meeting on 8 July 2013 the Italian Society of Medical Radiology – SIRM – has officially published 5 high-risk practices of inappropriateness identified by Slow Medicine under the project “Doing more does not mean doing better.”
The Executive Board meeting on 24 June 2021 identified these additional 5 practices in the field of instrumental imaging on children and infants, given the particular peculiarity and significance of the need for appropriateness in paediatric x-ray exposure.
A review of the literature was carried out based on common clinical practices that do not, in most cases, determine a clinical decision. The practices selected were chosen based on lack of efficacy, risk of damage from exposure to ionizing radiation, risk of over-diagnosis and over-treatment, and high diffusion in Italy; also inherently characterized by high costs. The identification of the procedures took into account the ACR appropriateness criteria https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Clinical-Tools-and-Reference/Appropriateness-Criteria and the agreement between the Italian Minister of Health, the Italian Regions and Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano on the document entitled “Guidelines for diagnostic imaging” based on art. 4 of Legislative Decree of the 28th of August 1997, n.281.
The document was further updated in January 2026, with approval by the SIRM Executive Board.
Although the “legge 101/ 2020” states that the justification of these practices is a responsibility of the MD Radiologist together with the prescriber, the case law and the daily practice make it difficult to consistently reject these requests in the absence of an appropriate awareness of prescribing doctors and general population.
First list
released: 1 March 2014
last updated: 1 January 2026
How this list was created
In occasion of the Executive Board meeting on 8 July 2013 the Italian Society of Medical Radiology – SIRM – has officially published 5 high-risk practices of inappropriateness identified by Slow Medicine under the project “Doing more does not mean doing better.”
A review of the literature was carried out based on common clinical practices that do not, in most cases, determine a clinical decision. The practices selected were chosen based on lack of efficacy, risk of damage from exposure to ionizing radiation, risk of over-diagnosis and over-treatment, and high diffusion in Italy; also inherently characterized by high costs. The identification of the procedures took into account the ACR appropriateness criteria https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Clinical-Tools-and-Reference/Appropriateness-Criteria and the agreement between the Italian Minister of Health, the Italian Regions and Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano on the document entitled “Guidelines for diagnostic imaging” based on art. 4 of Legislative Decree of the 28th of August 1997, n.281.
Sources were reviewed in December 2022, and the document was further updated in January 2026, with approval by the SIRM Executive Board.
Although the “legge 101/ 2020” states that the justification of these practices is a responsibility of the MD Radiologist together with the prescriber, the case law and the daily practice make it difficult to consistently reject these requests in the absence of an appropriate awareness of prescribing doctors and general population.
About this society:
The Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology – SIRM – was founded in 1913 and counts over 12,000 members. Its purpose is scientific research, cultural updating and training in the study of biomedical imaging, in its physical, biological, diagnostic, radiation protection and IT aspects.
The President remains in office for two years and the twelve councillors for four years.
The organization is present throughout Italy and is divided into 18 Regional Groups and 20 Subspecialty Sections (e.g. Breast Care, Thoracic Radiology, Musculoskeletal Radiology, Urgency, Ethics, MRI, Radiology Informatics and AI etc.).
The official media branch is the “La Radiologia Medica” the professional scientific journal published in English with IF 4.8. Other radiological open access publication is: Journal of Medical Imaging and Interventional Radiology.
The National Congress is held every two years and is attended by around 4,500 members.
The official site: www.sirm.org can provide further details.
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