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Creation of a Retrospective Searchable Neuropathologic Database from Print Archives: The UHN Experience
Author(s) -
Croul Sidney Edward,
Ehsani Sepehr,
Bernstein Andrea,
Winter Donald,
Gentili Fred,
Asa Sylvia
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a400-a
Subject(s) - computer science , medical diagnosis , categorization , prioritization , database , information retrieval , medline , medicine , world wide web , library science , pathology , artificial intelligence , management science , political science , law , economics
UHN provides a large proportion of the neuro‐oncologic care for the 10 million people in Ontario. The paper, glass slide and paraffin block archival material for this center is available from the 1930's to present. A searchable electronic database was instituted prospectively in September 2001. To add the previous 75 years (more than 50,000 specimens) to the database, we employed high‐throughput automated scanning of the paper archives. The searchable PDF files generated from these scans were filtered through a multi‐tiered process driven by Java computer programs that selected relevant patient information and diagnostic information. A second series of programs searched the pathologist‐assigned diagnoses and was capable of converting more than ninety percent of these to the standardized WHO format. This was achieved with a simple master list of key site and diagnostic terms, and prioritization rules determined on a trial and error basis. Within three months, the categorization of over 5000 cases in an easily searchable format was completed and an additional 20,000 to 30,000 cases were accrued in PDF format pending completion.