[The differential diagnosis of sarcoidosis of the respiratory organs using mathematical methods and computers]

A system for detecting sarcoidosis has been proposed on the basis of the results of a primary examination, which comprises a combination of programs for determining whether sarcoidosis may occur in various X-ray syndromes (enlarged intrathoracic lymph nodes, disseminated process, infiltrative or pneumonia-like shadow and cavity formation). The system has been developed with the help of a program-algorithm complex which enables one to make the dialogue system of the decision-make support on the basis of statistical methods of "image recognition" containing basic structural elements of the expert systems. Program development proceeds from the findings obtained in 406 patients with sarcoidosis of respiratory organs and 723 patients having similar clinical and X-ray picture of the disease. The diagnostic efficiency of the system was 89% in disseminated processes, 90% in enlarged intrathoracic lymph nodes and cavitary changes, and 96.2% in infiltrative changes.