A computerized recording system for cytopathologic diagnoses
Eriksson, O.; Westman-Naeser, S.; Stenkvist, B.; Bengtsson, E.; Holmquist, J.
Acta Cytologica 21(2): 266-270
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5547 PMID: 266336 Document Number: 123577
The system was designed to faciliate the administration and work within a cytologic department. It was important that the system allowed an easy transciption of already accumulated data and a rapid transfer of current data. It was not necessary to make any essential changes in the forms already in use and familiar to the clinicians. A square for the codes of topography, morphology and special handling of the samples was added. Several morphologic changes can be combined with one topographic locus. Since the person using the program would be one with very little knowledge of computers, all actions were determined by conversation between the user and the computer. An essential part of computer programing for cytology is the quality control of this type of investigation. The program was thus designed to facilitate the comparison of diagnoses on cytologic specimens with the subsequent histopathology. With this computer control it seems to be possible to determine the value of the 2 types of investigation in reaching a definite diagnosis. The present data storage system performed quite well in initial operation. The full implementation was restricted only by problems with underdimensioned hardware (lack of disk memory).