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Sindromes: A program for computer-assisted diagnosis of malformation syndromes

Marcos J.B. Aguiar^I,IV; Marcelo N. Machado^III; Sérgio D.J. Pena^II,IV

^IDepartamento de Pediatria, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 30130 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
^IIDepartamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 30161 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
^IIINúcleo de Computação de Saúde, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 30130 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
^IVNúcleo de Genética Médica de Minas Gerais (GENE-MG), Caixa Postal 3396, 30162 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. Send correspondence to S.D.J.P.

ABSTRACT

We have developed a computer program, called SINDROMES which was designed to assist in the differential diagnosis of the more common dysmorphic syndromes. The program is menu-driven and simple to use, not demanding any computer experience. It is written in COBOL and contains two main data bases: a "Syndromes Data Base" with 316 syndromes and their clinical features and a "Characteristics Data Base" containing 671 clinical features hierarchically organized and with code numbers that permit their rapid identification. The main feature of the program is the capability of generating differential diagnostic lists of syndromes based on the clinical characteristics observed in a patient. Program routines also allow the listing of characteristics of a given syndrome, the listing of any data base, and easy expansion or modification of the data bases. The program can be run in microcomputers under the CP/M operational system (64 Kbytes minimum) or MS/DOS operational system (256 Kbytes minimum) and only needs two disk drives for 5 1/4" or 31/2" double-face diskettes.

Keywords: Program; Diagnosis; Malformation syndromes.

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