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Appendicitis: The Computer as a Diagnostic Tool

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2009

John R. Clarke
John R. Clarke
Affiliation:
Medical College of Pennsylvania
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Extract

At present there is no definitive test for appendicitis and no clear set of signs and symptoms, so that diagnosis is uncertain and probabilistic. A computer model for analyzing clinical data can improve physician accuracy in diagnosing appendicitis by assessing the outcome probabilities associated with the treatment options. Should a definitive test become available, the computer model will aid clinicians in determining when to test. Once our proposed model has been validated, it will not only improve physician decision-making, but also provide quality assurance feedback, generate reports for documentation, and compile a data base of many cases for study and reference.

Type
Special Section: Technology Assessment and Surgical Policy
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 5 , Issue 3 , July 1989 , pp. 371 - 379
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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