Purpose

The mapping tool enables you to standardize exam names by mapping to the most closely associated Radlex RPIDs (for CT exams) or ACR Common procedure names for fluoroscopy procedures and digital radiography exams (grouped together as projection X-ray exams). The tool is best used for mapping one or several exams or procedures.  If you need to map many exams or procedures--especially if you are just getting started--check out the Knowledge Base article Using the Mapping Tool's Export and Update Features

Process Overview

Mapping an exam name or procedure to a standardized term involves four steps as presented below using mapping to an RPID as an example. Mapping to ACR Common Procedures follows the same basic process with some minor differences in labels – e.g. the Search RPID button for CT exams is labeled Search by Common Procedure for fluoroscopy. 

  1. Select an exam from the list of your exams by clicking the box to the left of the exam description

  2. Click the Search RPID button to open the Search RPID dialog box

  3. You can search for exams by various characteristics, e.g., Body Region, and associated values, e.g., Chest in the drop-down lists, as needed. Click the Search button to review the list of RPIDs returned, and select the most appropriate one

  4. Click Assign RPID.

Note: In step 1, you can select one or more closely related exams to map to the same RPID or ACR Common Procedure.

If the value in the RPID Shortname column is an insufficient explanation for the exam, you may search for the RPID Longname via the RadLex website by selecting the Download link in the upper top right corner of the screen, to generate an Excel file of all available Common Procedure names. Similarly, for fluoroscopy and digital radiography exams, you can use the ACR’s interactive tool to navigate the complete listing of available ACR Common Procedures.


Step-by-Step Example: Assign an RPID to a CT Study Description

Suppose you wish to map the exam name CT ABD PEL WWO IV CON to an RPID. 

1. Check the box next to that exam name, and then click the Search RPID button.

DIR ENMT Example 1 - Select Exam


The Search RPID pop-up window appears.DIR ENMT Example 1 - Search RPID Pop Up Box

2. Select the appropriate categories to search for possible RadLex Playbook exam IDs and descriptions. For example, suppose the exam should be assigned to CT ABD PELVIS WO & W IVCON. Under Body Region, check Abdomen and then check Pelvis, and for Contrast Enhancement select Without then With IV Contrast from the drop-down menus. Click the Search button to query for possible exams.DIR ENMT Example 1 - Search RPID Pop Up Box Selections Made

The list of RPID exams narrows down to Shortnames matching your criteria. 

3. Select RPID198 by clicking the radio button next to it

4. Then click the Assign RPID button.DIR ENMT Example 1 - Search RPID Pop Up Box RPID Selected

The mapping is assigned to the study description and the status is updated to Tagging Completed.


Because the status of the exam name has changed, you can verify the description was assigned correctly by choosing Tagging Completed from the drop-down menu next to the Status button, and looking for the exam in the list of Tagging Completed exams.DIR ENMT Example 1 - Verify  Tagging Completed



Previous: Navigating the
Exam Name Mapping Tool
Next: Upload Exam Name Mappings