Coping with the variability of medical terms.
| Title | Coping with the variability of medical terms. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2004 |
| Authors | Baud, RH, Ruch, P, Gaudinat, A, Fabry, P, Lovis, C, Geissbuhler, A |
| Journal | Studies in health technology and informatics |
| Volume | 107 |
| Issue | Pt 1 |
| Pagination | 322-6 |
| Date Published | 2004 |
| ISSN | 0926-9630 |
| Keywords | Algorithms, Information Storage and Retrieval, Natural Language Processing, Semantics, Terminology as Topic, Vocabulary, Controlled |
| Abstract | OBJECTIVES: To cope with medical terms, which present a high variability of expression through a single natural language, in the sense that any term may be reformulated in hundred of different ways. METHODS: A typology of term variants is presented as a systematic approach in order to favour the implementation of an exhaustive solution. Then, an algorithm able to handle all variants is designed. RESULTS: Using MetaMap, single terms are analyzed with a success rate varying between 68 and 88 %; the algorithm presented in this paper improves this situation. CONCLUSIONS: This experience shows that a semantic driven method, based on a thesaurus, provides a satisfactory solution to the problem of variability of a single term. The presented typology is representative of most variants in a language. |
| Alternate Journal | Stud Health Technol Inform |
| PubMed ID | 15360827 |