An expert system for the interpretation of flow cytometric immunophenotyping data

The development of high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in HIV-positive patients and patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a well known phenomenon. The proper classification of these neoplasms often requires a multiparameter approach, including the interpretation of a large panel of immunologic markers analyzed by flow cytometry. The availability of individuals with the required expertise to properly interpret these marker studies is limited. For this reason, we have designed an expert system to automate the analysis of immunophenotyping panels in both HIV-related and non-HIV-related hematopoietic neoplasms. The expert system, which we call "Professor Fidelio", runs on IBM-compatible computers under Windows 3.0. The system is designed to accept any number of markers studied from a repertoire of 35 markers. Professor Fidelio functions on the basis of heuristic classification of defined diagnostic patterns. Nine specific patterns (Stem Cell, Myeloid and/or Monocytic, Erythroid, Megakaryocytic, Immature B-cell, Immature T-cell, Mature B-cell, Mature T-cell, and Plasma cell) and one "non-specific" pattern have been agreed upon. Fidelio's knowledge base contains the definitions of each of these patterns and the heuristics for excluding patterns when an incomplete panel of markers is performed. The inference engine interprets the findings (including the age of the patient) and reports the patterns which are matched, the differential diagnosis, the suggested diagnosis from the list of differentials if the marker studies are specific, and recommendations for additional tests which may be valuable in establishing the diagnosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)