[Radiology reporting system based on the concept of hierarchical structure].
A new radiology reporting system based on the concept of hierarchical structure is proposed. The system generates an intermediate language file made up of semantically linked key words. The hierarchical structure refers to the model of Open System Interconnection (OSI) proposed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The intermediate language is managed and stored along with free sentences (descriptive language) to form a hierarchical structure. Reports of 57 echographies including 65 liver diseases and 7 normal studies done by two medical doctors and two radiologic technicians were tested to evaluate the feasibility and utility of this reporting system. The model system was developed using a personal computer (EPSON PC-486GF) and Japanese word processing software (Justsystem Ichitaro Ver.5/Windows). The hit ratio of the number of picked up keywords (intermediate language) against the number of key findings contained in the free sentences (descriptive language) was 97.4%, and the ratio of hit cases out of total cases was 88.7%. This reporting system with free-text process and hierarchical structure is feasible and useful for improvement of radiological information passage and formation of a radiology database, whereas the strict standardization of descriptive words and criteria of findings will be required for the construction of a practical system.