Personalised 3D-printed model of a chest-wall chondrosarcoma to enhance patient understanding of complex cardiothoracic surgery

• Published in: BMJ case reports Vol. 2018; p. bcr-2018-224464
• Main Authors: Weinberg, Laurence, Pyo, Moon Hae, Spanger, Manfred, Barnett, Stephen Arthur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 26.05.2018; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: 3-D printers; Aged; Bone Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Bone Neoplasms - psychology; Bone Neoplasms - surgery; Case reports; Chondrosarcoma - diagnostic imaging; Chondrosarcoma - psychology; Chondrosarcoma - surgery; Clinical outcomes; Communication; Consent; Education; Heart surgery; Humans; Images In; Literature reviews; Male; Pathology; Patient Education as Topic - methods; Planning; Precision Medicine - methods; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Thoracic surgery; Thoracic Wall - diagnostic imaging; Thoracic Wall - surgery; Writing; cardiothoracic surgery; surgical oncology
• ISSN: 1757-790X; 1757-790X
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2018-224464

Given the extensive involvement of neighbouring structures by this complex tumour, a 3D model was printed to enhance the patient's understanding of his medical condition ( figure 2 ). [...]3D-printing modelling has been known to facilitate a more rapid understanding of anatomy compared with conventional media. 2 3 It serves as a valuable tool of communication with patients and may be a useful resource in multidisciplinary team coordination for discussing the pathology involved in a surgical procedure. [...]although this modality remains in its infancy, current literature suggests improved outcomes in education compared with traditional educational methods. 4 With the continual implementation and enhancement of this technology, it is expected that 3D printing will play a significantly more prominent role in anatomical and surgical patient education in the future.