The Czech Salivary Gland Database (CSGDB) application helps doctors. It simplifies and clarifies the management of data on patients with tumors of the major salivary glands. Before its introduction, patient data was mainly recorded in paper files and partly in internal hospital systems, which often did not allow for the addition of specific information for this diagnosis. Now, doctors can store all important data—from basic patient information to test results and treatment progress—in one place. Another big advantage is the ability to export data to a spreadsheet program, which facilitates further statistical analysis and use for research or professional publications. CSGDB software is now an integral part of clinical practice at the Motol University Hospital.
The application was developed by Vojtěch Jelínek, a second-year student specializing in Software and Information Systems at the Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (FAV UWB). The first version of the system was created as a semester project by three FAV students in collaboration with the Motol University Hospital, and Vojtěch Jelínek continued to develop the application as part of his bachelor's thesis under the supervision of Petr Brůha from the Department of Informatics and Computer Science. He expanded it to include higher security and a statistical data processing function using the Kaplan–Meier method. This allows doctors to estimate the probability of patient survival depending on time and the histological type of malignant tumor. "Theoretically, this method can also be used when communicating with patients. However, given that the results can be demotivating, especially in less favorable cases, it is advisable to carefully consider how they are presented," the student pointed out the potential pitfalls.
Currently, cooperation continues in the form of a specialized project. Vojtěch Jelínek, Petr Brůha, and Pavel Nový from FAV, in collaboration with David Kalfeřt from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at Motol University Hospital, are discussing additional functions of the system, its maintenance, and long-term development. "My job is to design and implement new features and communicate regularly with doctors so that we can tailor the application to their needs, especially for use in clinical and scientific practice," said Vojtěch Jelínek. He also emphasizes that he works exclusively with anonymized data provided by doctors and does not meet with patients in person.
