The confidence level in a diagnosis depends on the quality of the evidence for and against that diagnosis.
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Confidence in Diagnosis
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Key Diagnostic Feature
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Matching Points (Characteristics)
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Inconsistencies
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positive (certain)
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defining feature(s) present
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most or all
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none or rare
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probable
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none
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some
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few
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possible
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none
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few
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some
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no match (negative, excluded)
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exclusionary feature present (rule out)
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none or rare
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most or all (multiple)
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Key diagnostic features: powerful but usually small in number
(1) defining feature: a feature whose presence indicates a definitive diagnosis
(2) exclusion feature: a feature whose presence excludes a diagnosis
