RT Book, Section A1 Nigrovic, Peter A. A2 Kline, Mark W. SR Print(0) ID 1182932146 T1 Diagnostic Testing in Rheumatology T2 Rudolph's Pediatrics, 23e YR 2018 FD 2018 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259588594 LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1182932146 RD 2024/03/19 AB Laboratory and imaging studies rarely establish a definitive diagnosis of rheumatologic diseases in children. The prevalence of rheumatic diseases in childhood is low, and even very specific tests generate high false-positive rates unless there is a well-founded clinical suspicion for a particular illness based on an informed differential diagnosis guided by the history and physical exam. Further, the utility of an assay will vary with the nature and stage of the illness. Nonetheless, diagnostic testing can provide information that is essential for the evaluation and treatment of children with rheumatic diseases.