Ontology-Based Error Detection in SNOMED-CTreg;.doc

Ontology-Based Error Detection in SNOMED-CT? Werner Ceustersa, Barry Smithb, Anand Kumarb, Christoffel Dhaena a Language Computing nv, Zonnegem, Belgium b Institute for Formal Ontology and Medical Information Science, Leipzig, Germany To be presented at Medinfo, San Francisco, September 7-11, 2004 Abstract Quality assurance in large terminologies is a difficult issue. We present two algorithms that can help terminology developers and users to identify potential mistakes. We demonstrate the methodology by outlining the different types of mistakes that are found when the algorithms are applied to SNOMED-CT?. On the basis of the results, we argue that both formal logical and linguistic tools should be used in the development and quality-assurance process of large terminologies. Keywords Medical natural language understanding, medical terminologies, formal ontology, quality assurance. Introduction The main goal of Language and Computing nv (LC) is to deliver advanced natural language understanding (NLU) applications directed primarily towards terminology management, coding, semantic indexing, and information retrieval and extraction. NLU requires both knowledge about reality (i.e. about what is described by using language) and knowledge about language itself (so that one can assess a language user’s current perspective on reality by understanding how he is using language to describe it). To achieve these ends LC has developed LinKBase?, a realist ontology for the healthcare domain, and LinKFactory?, an ontology authoring and management system. LinKBase? has since 2002 been developed in close collaboration with IFOMIS, the Institute for Formal Ontology and Medical Information Science of the University of Leipzig, which is developing a framework for ontology construction and alignment in the biomedical domain based on rigorous formal definitions and axioms [1]. IFOMIS starts out from the idea that we need to understand the general structure and organization of a give