Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
Authors: Richard Lofgren, Terry W. Crowson
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1981)

Letters and Corrections1 September 1981Diagnostic Tests and ProceduresRICHARD LOFGREN, M.D., TERRY W. CROWSON, M.D.RICHARD LOFGREN, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, TERRY W. CROWSON, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-95-3-387_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: The technologic advances of the past several decades have presented practicing physicians with many diagnostic tests and procedures. The effective use of this technology is a major challenge for clinicians, and efforts to make physicians more aware of the principles of effective use (1) may be hindered by confusing terminology. Such is the case with the term predictive value.In the medical literature, positive predictive value is commonly reported by the following formula:As discussed by Griner and his colleagues (1), this formula is applicable only in situations in which prevalence or prior probability of disease is...References1. GRINER P, MAYEWSKI R, MUSHLIN A, and GREENLAND P. Selection and interpretation of diagnostic tests and procedures: principles and applications. Ann Intern Med. 1981;94(Part 2):553-600. Google Scholar2. CASCELLS W, SCHOENBERGER A, and GRABOYS T. Interpretation by physicians of clinical laboratory results. N Engl J Med. 1978;299:999-1001. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. GRINER P, MAYEWSKI R, MUSHLIN A, and GREENLAND P. Selection and interpretation of diagnostic tests and procedures: principles and applications. Ann Intern Med. 1981;94(Part 2):553-600. Google Scholar1. WEINSTEIN M and FINEBERG H. Clinical Decision Analysis. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Co.; 1980:155-6. Google Scholar1. GRINER P, MAYEWSKI R, MUSHLIN A, and GREENLAND P. Selection and interpretation of diagnostic tests and procedures: principles and applications. Ann Intern Med. 1981;94(Part 2):553-600. Google Scholar2. ROWE J. Clinical research on aging: strategies and directions. N Engl J Med. 1977;297:1332-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. GALEN R. Beyond normality: an update. In: BENSON ES, RUBIN M, eds. Logic and Economics of Clinical Laboratory Use. New York: Elsevier/North Holland Biomedical Press; 1978:104. Google Scholar4. MILNE J and WILLIAMSON J. Plasma urea concentration in older people. Gerontol Clin. 1972;14:32-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. ROWE J, ANDRES R, TOBIN J, NORRIS A, and SHOCK N. The effect of age on creatinine clearance in men: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study. J Gerontol. 1976;31:155-63. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. GRINER P, MAYEWSKI R, MUSHLIN A, and GREENLAND P. Selection and interpretation of diagnostic tests and procedures: principles and applications. Ann Intern Med. 1981;94(Part 2):553-600. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: RICHARD LOFGREN, M.D.; TERRY W. CROWSON, M.D. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byUtility of the plain abdominal radiograph for diagnosing ureteral calculi 1 September 1981Volume 95, Issue 3Page: 387-389KeywordsPositive predictive value ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 September 1981 PDF downloadLoading ...