A Computer — based Reference System for Medical Diagnosis

Data oriented organization of medical knowledge with index-sequential access appears to be suitable for handling large amounts of medical facts which are required for differential diagnosis. Extensive textbook knowledge has been used as data source for a diagnostic support system. In the consultation process the signs of a patient are entered; based on these information the system proposes probable diagnoses considering other possible diseases having similar signs; furthermore signs to be additionally examined are displayed in order to direct the diagnostic procedure and to further differentiate the diagnosis.