A knowledge-based approach to information extraction from surgical pathology reports

We describe the development of a prototype system for knowledge-based information extraction from surgical pathology reports. The current system includes abstract problem solving methods and a frame-based knowledge representation of body parts, procedures, diseases, and findings for prostate and breast cases. The system currently extracts the organ, procedure, and diagnoses, and sets an agenda of goals for further processing. A potential advantage of this approach is the ability to increase specificity of information extraction.