Coverage of oncology drug indication concepts and compositional semantics by SNOMED-CT

AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2003:2003:115-9.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate SNOMED-CT 's ability to represent simple and compositional concepts in FDA approved oncology drug indications.

Methods: Oncology drug indications were decomposed into single and compositional concepts. SNOMED-CT's coverage of single concepts and the semantics needed to create compositional concepts were evaluated using automated and manual techniques.

Results: SNOMED-CT covered 86.3% of single concepts present in oncology drug indications; 11.3% of indications were covered completely. Coverage was best for concepts describing diseases, anatomy, and patient characteristics. Medications accounted for 50.5% of missing concepts. Excluding drug names, 45.2% of indications were completely represented. SNOMED-CT's semantics completely represented 60.1% of compositional expressions.

Conclusions: SNOMED-CT's overall coverage of the concepts in oncology drug indications was good. Improvements or alternatives are needed for medications and semantics.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / classification*
  • Humans
  • Medical Oncology / classification*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Semantics
  • Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents