Medical 3D Printing for the Radiologist

Abstract

While use of advanced visualization in radiology is instrumental in diagnosis and communication with referring clinicians, there is an unmet need to render Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) images as three-dimensional (3D) printed models capable of providing both tactile feedback and tangible depth information about anatomic and pathologic states. Three-dimensional printed models, already entrenched in the nonmedical sciences, are rapidly being embraced in medicine as well as in the lay community. Incorporating 3D printing from images generated and interpreted by radiologists presents particular challenges, including training, materials and equipment, and guidelines. The overall costs of a 3D printing laboratory must be balanced by the clinical benefits. It is expected that the number of 3D-printed models generated from DICOM images for planning interventions and fabricating implants will grow exponentially. Radiologists should at a minimum be familiar with 3D printing as it relates to their field, including types of 3D printing technologies and materials used to create 3D-printed anatomic models, published applications of models to date, and clinical benefits in radiology. Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Patient-specific three-dimensional printing for pre-surgical planning in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment

“…A four-step production process was implemented to generate the patient-specific 3D liver model utilized for this study ( Figure 1) (3,6,9,10,21,24,25).…”

“…Image visualization and processing tools within this software were used to (I) apply a median filter, reducing image noise and enhancing the anatomical boundaries for accurate segmentation; (II) segment structures of interest; and (III) export the segmented data in standard tessellation language (STL) file format as required for editing and 3D printing (10,16,18,(22)(23)(24)(25). Anatomical structures that were perceived likely to affect decisions made in surgical planning included the inferior vena cava, portal vein and associated branches, hepatic veins, hepatic artery, the tumour and associated arterial supply, and the liver body (2,3,9,23).…”

“…Currently, 3D printed models are being used as clinical tools in the endeavour to bridge this gap, enhancing the viewer's cognitive comprehension of anatomy and pathology in areas such as medical education, surgical training, surgical planning and operative simulation (2,3,(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). The tactile experience is known to support a holistic evaluation of important anatomical and/or pathological features (10), with the manipulation and visualization of the physical 3D printed models providing the in-depth understanding required to plan accurate, safe, and effective surgical procedures (4,5,13,14,16,(17)(18)(19)(20)(21).…”

App Review Series: RadioGraphics

“…5 For those interested, references are very easily accessible through hyperlinks embedded within the content of the app. Source, used with permission [1] and is only possible through the advanced search feature, which requires many extra steps, navigates you to the pubs.rsna.org website, and in our hands did not work particularly well-downloads sometimes stalled and downloaded content does not appear within the app but rather within a separate linked website that is difficult to find again at a later time. Conversely, if one has downloaded an issue or article that is no longer needed, it would be helpful to be able to delete it off the device but that is not a feature that is currently supported.…”

Virtual reality‐assisted localization and three‐dimensional printing‐enhanced multidisciplinary decision to treat radiologically occult superficial endobronchial lung cancer

“…The location was confirmed by the pulmonologist who had performed the bronchoscopy. We fabricated a 3D‐printed airway model using a commercially available 3D printer (MakerBot Replicator 2x, New York, NY, USA) with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene 4. The fabricated part was used to make an inverted 3D mold.…”