Employing fuzzy logic in the diagnosis of a clinical case

Abstract

Fuzzy logic is a logical calculus which operates with many truth values (while classical logic works with the two values of true and false). Since fuzzy logic considers the truth of scientific statements like something softened, it is fruitfully applied to the study of biological phenomena, biology is indeed considered the field of complexity, uncertainty and vagueness. In this paper fuzzy logic is successfully applied to the clinical diagnosis of a patient who suffers from different diseases bound by a complex causal chain. In this work it is presented a mathematical foundation of fuzzy logic (with connectives and inference rules) and then the application of fuzzy reasoning to the study of a clinical case. Probabilistic logic is widely considered the unique logical calculus useful in clinical diagnosis, thus the usefulness of fuzzy logic and its relation with probabilistic logic is here explored. The presentation of the case is supplied with all the features necessary to affect a clinical diagnosis: physical exam, anamnesis and tests.