Integration of Computed Tomography and Three-Dimensional Echocardiography for Hybrid Three-Dimensional Printing in Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging technology aiding diagnostics, education, and interventional, and surgical planning in congenital heart disease (CHD). Three-dimensional printing has been derived from computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and 3D echocardiography. However, individually the imaging modalities may not provide adequate visualization of complex CHD. The integration of the strengths of two or more imaging modalities has the potential to enhance visualization of cardiac pathomorphology. We describe the feasibility of hybrid 3D printing from two imaging modalities in a patient with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (L-TGA). Hybrid 3D printing may be useful as an additional tool for cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons in planning interventions in children and adults with CHD.

Three-dimensional printing in cardiology: Current applications and future challenges

“…Integration of multiple imaging modalities may be a good solution in acquiring high-quality medical images. A combination of multi-slice CT (MSCT) and 3D TEE produces a more ideal model compared with MSCT alone [33,34]. Fujita et al [35] developed a preoperative algorithm encompassing chest X-ray, echocardiography and 3D printing for the preoperative evaluation of congenital heart diseases.…”

Structural and congenital heart disease interventions: the role of three-dimensional printing

“…Echocardiography has a superior ability to image fast moving structures such as cardiac valves [7]. Fusion of different modalities (e. g. ventricles from CT, valves from echocardiography) to create a single 3D model has been reported [8]. Both ECG and non-ECG gated MRI have been used for 3D modelling and both seem to provide 3D printed models of comparable quality.…”

“…This makes patient-specific 3D printed models an ideal tool in this subset of patients for the planning of catheter-based (Table 3) and surgical interventions [4, 5, 8, 15]. …”

“…reported the use of 3D right ventricular outflow tract printing and 3D rotational angiography to guide pulmonary valve stenting and valve implantation [26]. Hybrid 3D printed heart models of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (TGA) [8] and dextroTGA after a Mustard operation [27] have been produced for illustrating the volume and morphologies of the chambers and proximal vessels. For those patients, 3D models could provide important insights into the changes in size and shape of the different chambers and the anatomy of vessels entering and exiting the baffles to the related ventricle.…”

Three-Dimensional Printing in Cardiovascular Disease: Verification of Diagnostic Accuracy of 3D Printed Models

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] 3D printed physical models based on computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging data show high accuracy in replicating complex anatomic structures of cardiovascular system, ranging from delineation of anatomical details of cardiovascular system to detection of pathologies. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Furthermore, 3D printed realistic models have been shown to play an important role in pre-surgical planning and simulation of complex cardiovascular disease, in both adult and pediatric patients through clear illustration of cardiac pathologies and facilitation of the simulation. [13][14][15][16][17] Before 3D printed models are recommended for routine clinical applications, it is important to ensure the accuracy of 3D printed models.…”