Retrieval in a Computer-assisted Pathology Encoding and Reporting System (CAPER).

A previous report described an online computer-assisted pathology encoding and reporting system (CAPER) developed at the Massachusetts General Hospital that accessions specimens, monitors their state of completion, produces all log books, and permits instantaneous display of all diagnoses rendered within a three-year period. The present report updates the functions currently available and describes a new function that enables the pathologist, independent of computer programmer support, to request complex, in-depth searches of the entire accumulated pathology data base, which at present contains in excess of 150,000 cases and 5,000,000 pieces of information. The pathologist can instruct the system to compare more than 30 types of data items through the development of Boolean expressions. The report also describes the test codes that were developed to reflect the work product of the surgical pathology division, form the basis for automated billing and compilation of monthly and yearly statistics, and are an integral part of the long-term data base for in-depth searches.