CommonKADS analysis and description of a knowledge based system for the assessment of breast cancer

A knowledge based system (KBS) has been created in order to provide decision support to the Triple Assessment Process used to diagnose breast cancer. The KBS is implemented using the PROforma knowledge representation language, the user interface is provided by Java Server Pages, Java Servlets, Javascript, and Cascading Style Sheets. In this paper, we describe and analyse the KBS using the CommonKADS methodology. In order to perform this analysis we examine the business processes, personnel, knowledge assets, and other resources used in triple assessment and describe how these would have to change in order to accommodate the use of KBS. We analyse the feasibility of the KBS along three axes: business feasibility, technical feasibility, and project feasibility. We also describe the knowledge that the KBS is required to represent and the reasoning that it is required to perform, as well as the overall design of the system. The analysis reveals that, while it could bring improvements the triple assessment process, the routine use of the KBS would require integration with an Electronic Patient Record System. It also identifies key strengths and weaknesses in PROforma and in the CommonKADS methodology. 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.