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Purpose of investigation: Difference between revisions
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== Diagnosis == | == Diagnosis == | ||
When an investigation is ordered for diagnosis, one should already have a list of differential diagnoses before ordering the test, and the test should be able to narrow down the list of differential diagnoses. It's important to consider the test's specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value in this. There is no reason to perform an investigation if it doesn't help narrow down the number of differential diagnoses. | When an investigation is ordered for diagnosis, one should already have a list of differential diagnoses before ordering the test, and the test should be able to narrow down the list of differential diagnoses. It's important to consider the test's specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value in this. There is no reason to perform an investigation if it doesn't help narrow down the number of differential diagnoses. | ||
=== A safe diagnostic strategy === | |||
The model "a safe diagnostic strategy", made by professor John Murtagh, involves five questions one should ask themselves during patient presentations: | |||
* What is the list of differential diagnoses, and which ones are most likely? | |||
* Which life-threatening or severe disorders are on the list of differential diagnoses that must not be missed? | |||
** Or "are there any red flags?" | |||
* Which disorders, which may present similarly, are usually overlooked? | |||
** Or "are there any diagnostic pitfalls I must avoid here?" | |||
* Could the patient have one of the "great imitator" disorders? (Syphilis, tuberculosis, Lyme disease, SLE, +++) | |||
* Is the patient actually trying to tell me something else that I'm missing? | |||
=== Using clinical findings and anamnesis to evaluate the pre-test probability === | === Using clinical findings and anamnesis to evaluate the pre-test probability === | ||
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* [https://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h5552 Explaining laboratory test results to patients: what the clinician needs to know] | * [https://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h5552 Explaining laboratory test results to patients: what the clinician needs to know] | ||
[[Category:Radiology]] | [[Category:Radiology]] | ||
[[Category:Laboratory Medicine]] | [[Category:Laboratory Medicine]] | ||
[[Category:Public Health]] | [[Category:Public Health]] | ||