Automated Retrieval of Autopsy Diagnose by Computer Technique

The single most important objection to conventional systems of retrieval of pathological diagnoses is that the coding must be done by hand for each record. The realization that diagnoses are regularly expressed in terms of pathologic process, anatomic site, and modifier of the process, coupled with the extraordinary manipulative capacity of the electronic computer, provides a way to eliminate hand coding of diagnoses. A machine-readable code for all diagnostic words in several autopsy reports has been formulated. By automatic translation of English words to code, and by automatic transfer of code to tape, it is possible to store and to retrieve diagnoses promptly and accurately by machine alone. It is necessary that questions be expressed in, “machine language.” Retrieval can be accomplished either on a generic or a specific basis, so that broad surveys can be made, or a single autopsy containing very specific information can be searched for.