A Web-based Pathology Scoring/grading System for Non-neoplastic Diseases
Zhenhong Qu MA; University of Rochester; Michelle E. Rodriguez MA; University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston; Gillian Coykendall MA; University of Rochester;
Content:
Context: Unlike neoplasm, non-neoplastic diseases that require grading or scoring in pathology reports are infrequently encountered, and their scoring/grading schemas share little in common. Consequently, it remains a challenge for general pathologists to accurately grades or scores to a wide variety of non-neoplastic diseases. We believe a web-based scoring system enlisting multiple scoring/grading schemes of widely encountered non-neoplastic diseases can facilitate the reporting process and minimize scoring errors.
Technology:
Technology: We use Microsoft (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA) Access to generate the scoring/grading templates. Microsoft Active Server Page (ASP.NET) is used to present the template as dynamic webpage on the Internet, and compile scoring/grading information into a text file.
Design:
Design: We collate scoring/grading schemes of different non-neoplastic diseases. For each schema, we create a template with drop-down lists for each category of data elements using Microsoft Access. The templates also include information on score or grade definition as a reminder. The templates are output as a dynamic webpage. The web user can select appropriate data elements with the help of the included reminder information. A simple text file will then be compiled
Results:
Results: Consortiums of scoring/grading schemas of 18 widely encountered non-neoplastic diseases are included in this system. This system is available on the World Wide Web. It functions both as a reminder of specific scoring information and as a tool to collect the scoring data by computer mouse clicks on drop-down lists of appropriate elements. The final selections can be compiled into a text file that can then be incorporated into a pathology report in a laboratory information system by copy-paste. When the Internet browser is closed, all selections are permanently purged out of the system.
Conclusion:
Conclusion: A web-based system pathology scoring/grading system with both reminder and scoring/grading function can help report these non-neoplastic diseases with great ease and accuracy. The features of scoring/grading information in drop-down lists and intuitive mouse-click data collection greatly facilitate the scoring process.
