Table 1.

AGO grades of recommendation

++	This investigation or therapeutic intervention is highly beneficial for patients, can be recommended without restrictions, and should be performed
+	This investigation or therapeutic intervention is of limited benefit for patients and can be performed
+/−	This investigation or therapeutic intervention has not shown benefit for patients and may be performed only in individual cases; according to current knowledge a general recommendation cannot be given
−	This investigation or therapeutic intervention can be of disadvantage for patients and might not be performed
−−	This investigation or therapeutic intervention is of clear disadvantage for patients and should be avoided or omitted in any case