Modification of the OMED nomenclature: a system approach based on the SISCOPE data model.

The OMED nomenclature represented a turning point in endoscopic computer systems by supplying software developers with an internationally recognized scientific document on which prototypes could be based. The main pitfalls of the OMED system are related to its hierarchical structure, probably not the most effective design to represent endoscopic findings. Based on our experience during the development of SISCOPE, an integrated data management system for endoscopy, an alternative scheme is proposed: Endoscopic descriptions are modeled as a set of objects represented by a data structure whose elements are location, morphology, associated lesions and hemorrhage. 72 objects appear to be sufficient for an accurate representation of all endoscopic scenes and a consistent data model could be created with this approach. Efforts should be made to decrease redundancy in the OMED nomenclature, but extension to other endoscopic data types, such as clinical and pathological diagnosis, is more urgently required. Furthermore, if data exchange between systems is desired, the definition of an Endoscopy Metafile is an absolute requirement.