Dxplain

**//Term://** //DXplain//
**Description:** DXplain is a decision support system developed at the Laboratory of Computer Science at the Massachusetts General Hospital, has the characteristics of both an electronic medical textbook and a medical reference system. This system assists physicians by generating diagnoses based on user input of patients symptoms, laboratory results, and other clinical findings. Evidential support for each diagnosis is presented, along with recommended follow-up that may be conducted by the physician to arrive at a more definitive diagnosis. The system also serves as a clinician reference with a searchable database of diseases and clinical manifestations.

In the role of a medical textbook, DXplain can provide a description of over 2400 different diseases. DXplain emphasizes the signs and symptoms that occur in each disease, the etiology, the pathology, and the prognosis. DXplain also provides up to 10 references for each disease, selected to emphasize clinical reviews when available. In addition, DXplain can provide a list of diseases which should be considered for any one of over 5000 different clinical manifestations (signs, symptoms, and laboratory examinations).

DXplain uses an interactive format to collect clinical information and makes use of a modified form of Bayesian logic to form clinical interpretations. The system has been used by tens of thousands of physicians and medical students since its original release. The database and the system are continually being improved and adapted as a result of feedback from the users. DXplain is in routine use at a number of hospitals and medical schools for clinical education and as an educational aid in clinical problem solving.
 * Use of the Program: **

**History:** DXplain has been in widespread use for over 23 years, and it has grown and evolved over that time. Work on DXplain began in 1984, and the first version, with information on approximately 500 diseases was released in 1986. National distribution of DXplain with a database of approximately 2000 diseases began in 1987 over the dial-up AMANET. After AMANET ceased operation in 1990, DXplain continued to be distributed over dial-up networks until 1995. Between 1991 and 1996, DXplain distributed itself as a stand-alone version that could be loaded on an individual PC. Since 1996, Internet access to the web-based version of DXplain replaced all previous methods of distribution.


 * Applications:**


 * Online Medical Textbooks
 * Evidence Based Support System


 * Web Resources:**

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