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Patient-Specific 3D Printing in Liver Disease

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Liver Diseases

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has been increasingly used in medical applications with promising results reported in the literature. 3D printed physical models are shown to be advantageous than traditional visualisation tools in demonstrating complex anatomical structures and offering 3D relationship between normal anatomy and pathology. Evidence of using 3D printed liver models in clinical practice indicates the accuracy of 3D printed models in replicating anatomy and pathology, potential value of 3D printed models in pre-surgical planning, simulation and medical education. This chapter provides an overview of the clinical application of 3D printed models in liver disease. Limitations and future directions of 3D printing in liver disease are also highlighted.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Medical Radiation Sciences, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia

    Zhonghua Sun

Authors
  1. Zhonghua Sun
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhonghua Sun .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, “Titu Maiorescu” University, Central Military Emergency University Hospital “Dr. Carol Davila”, Bucharest, Romania

    Florentina Radu-Ionita

  2. New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA

    Nikolaos T. Pyrsopoulos

  3. Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Central Military Emergency University Hospital “Dr. Carol Davila”, Bucharest, Romania

    Mariana Jinga

  4. Faculty of Medicine, “Titu Maiorescu” University, Central Military Emergency University Hospital “Dr. Carol Davila”, Bucharest, Romania

    Ion C. Tintoiu

  5. Medical Radiation Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia

    Zhonghua Sun

  6. “Prof. C.C. Iliescu” Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases, Bucharest, Romania

    Ecaterina Bontas

Self Study

Self Study

1.1 Questions

  1. 1.

    Which statement/s is/are true?

    1. (a)

      3D printed liver models can be produced using CT data

    2. (b)

      3D printed liver models can be produced using MRI data

    3. (c)

      3D printed liver models can be produced using Ultrasound data

    4. (d)

      3D printed liver models can be producing using angiographic data

  2. 2.

    Which statement/s is/are true?

    1. (a)

      3D printed liver models can be generated with high accuracy

    2. (b)

      3D printed models can be used for pre-surgical planning and simulation

    3. (c)

      3D printed models can be used for medical education

    4. (d)

      3D printed models can be used for assisting patient-doctor communication

    5. (e)

      All of them are correct

1.2 Answers

  1. 1.

    Which statement/s is/are true? a and b are correct.

    CT and MR imaging data are commonly used to generate 3D printed liver models.

    Ultrasound or angiographic imaging modalities do not provide volume data, thus are not used for 3D printing in liver disease.

  2. 2.

    Which statement/s is/are true? e is correct.

    Despite reported discrepancy in diameter measurements between original source images and 3D printed liver models, 3D printed liver models are shown to be accurate with applications in different areas ranging from pre-surgical planning and simulation to education.

Glossary

3D printing

A process to produce a solid 3D object from a 3D digital model using different materials enabling creation of customizable or patient-specific geometries or shapes.

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Most common type of primary malignant liver cancer.

Liver transplantation

Treatment option for a diseased liver by replacing it with a healthy liver from another person (donor).

Tumour

An abnormal mass of tissue growth resulting in swelling or enlargement of a part of the organ or body.

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Sun, Z. (2020). Patient-Specific 3D Printing in Liver Disease. In: Radu-Ionita, F., Pyrsopoulos, N., Jinga, M., Tintoiu, I., Sun, Z., Bontas, E. (eds) Liver Diseases. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24432-3_43

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24432-3_43

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-24431-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-24432-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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