Abstract
The clinical decision-making process is based on probability. Based on certain clinical information such as risk factors, family history, and findings on physical examination, the clinician obtains some estimate of the probability of disease (the pretest probability). Diagnostic tests are performed in order to improve the estimate of this probability. If the test is negative, the probability of disease should fall and if the test is positive, then the probability of the disease should rise. Useful diagnostic tests will produce marked shifts in the probability of disease based on whether the results of the test are positive or negative.
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© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ
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Benatar, M. (2006). Diagnosis. In: Benatar, M. (eds) Neuromuscular Disease. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-106-2_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-106-2_2
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