Set theory in diagnostic reasoning.
BACKGROUND
Regarding diagnostic reasoning, the currently taught Bayesian theory is a form of hypothetical-deduction reasoning. Using set theory, we offer syllogism reasoning instead of hypothetical-deductive reasoning and establish an online diagnostic expert system model based on this diagnostic methodology.


METHODS
Concepts of set theory were employed to demonstrate diagnostic reasoning. ASP, Vbscript and Microsoft Access were used to establish the expert system and data of 50 cases from Shanghai pulmonary hospital were put into the program to test its efficiency.


CONCLUSIONS
Diagnostic procedure is type of syllogism rather than hypothetical-deductive reasoning.
Tang
Rui-Bao
RB
Embryological Department, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, PR China. roseboy0227@hotmail.com
Deng
Qin-Fang
QF
Liu
Hou-Qi
HQ
D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003933:Diagnosis; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005103:Expert Systems; D006801:Humans; D008128:Logic; D008962:Models, Theoretical