[Creation, development and maintenance of the data-base of a computer-assisted diagnostic system (ADM) (author's...

The creation of the data-base for our ADM system begun in 1972, tests on a high productivity type of procedure which we consider should be explained. In organizing and creating our data-bank our routine procedures are: first, the capture of signs, symptoms and pathological data after the text editing of the description of diseases as prepared by medical students under the direction of the Medical Computing Service; second, the control and coding of the data by the personnel of the Medical Computing Service: third, the machine storage of the data and the automated logical controls by the Medical Computing Service; and fourth, the semantic control of the data as well as the availability of each new version. Other related procedures based on the individual theses and various studies are described as examples. From 1972 to 1980 an impressive data-bank was created holding descriptions of 2200 diseases with 22000 signs and symptoms and 3500 bibliographies. It is now foreseen that between 1980 and 1983, the prototype will be placed in service and adapted. The creation and maintenance of such a data-bank with all the problems that it entails, and developed under such economical conditions justifies our presentation.