Three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques are rapidly advancing in the medical industry and in clinical practice. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of 3D virtual and printed models of 12 representative cerebrovascular diseases, consisting of 9 intracranial aneurysms, 2 cavernous malformations and 1 arteriovenous malformation.Using the software we developed, segmentation of raw data and rendering and modification for 3D virtual models were processed mostly automatically. Among the 12 virtual models, 9 (excluding 3 intracranial aneurysms) were printed with a commercial 3D printing system and materials. Most intracranial structures were satisfactorily made, including the skull, brain, vessels, thrombus, tentorium and major cranial nerves. The 3D models were thought to be very helpful in experiencing the operative views from various directions in advance and in selecting an appropriate surgical approach.However, it was still difficult to discriminate small vessels and cranial nerves, to feel a realistic tactile sense and to directly perform presurgical simulations, such as dissection, removal, clipping and microanastomosis. With advancements in radiological resolution, processing techniques and material properties, 3D modeling is expected to simulate real brain tissues more closely.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques are rapidly advancing in the medical industry and in clinical practice. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of 3D virtual and printed models of 12 representative cerebrovascular diseases, consisting of 9 intracranial aneurysms, 2 cavernous malformations and 1 arteriovenous malformation. Using the software we developed, segmentation of raw data and rendering and modification for 3D virtual models were processed mostly automatically. Among the 12 virtual models, 9 (excluding 3 intracranial aneurysms) were printed with a commercial 3D printing system and materials. Most intracranial structures were satisfactorily made, including the skull, brain, vessels, thrombus, tentorium and major cranial nerves. The 3D models were thought to be very helpful in experiencing the operative views from various directions in advance and in selecting an appropriate surgical approach. However, it was still difficult to discriminate small vessels and cranial nerves, to feel a realistic tactile sense and to directly perform presurgical simulations, such as dissection, removal, clipping and microanastomosis. With advancements in radiological resolution, processing techniques and material properties, 3D modeling is expected to simulate real brain tissues more closely.