3D printing with MRI in pediatric applications

Abstract

3D printing (3DP) applications for clinical evaluation, preoperative planning, patient and trainee education, and simulation has increased in the past decade. Most of the applications are found in cardiovascular, head and neck, orthopedic, neurological, urological, and oncological surgical cases. This review has three parts. The first part discusses the technical pathway to realizing a physical model, 3DP considerations in pediatric MRI image acquisition, data and resolution requirements, and related structural segmentation and postprocessing steps needed to generalize both virtual and physical models. Standard practices and processing software used in these processes will be assessed. The second part discusses complementary examples in pediatric applications, including cases from cardiology, neuroradiology, neurology, and neurosurgery, head and neck, orthopedics, pelvic and urological applications, oncological applications, and fetal imaging. The third part explores other 3D printing applications and considerations such as using 3DP to develop tissue‐specific phantoms and devices for testing in the MR environment, to educate patients and their families, to train clinicians and students, and facility requirements for building a 3DP program.Level of Evidence: 5Technical Efficacy: Stage 5J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:1641–1658.

Use of modern three‐dimensional imaging models to guide surgical planning for local control of pediatric extracranial solid tumors

“…This has been further amplified by White Paper publications and establishment of guidelines by both the American College of Radiology and the Radiological Society of North America 7,8 . While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) have been the foundation of preoperative oncologic imaging, 4 incorporating 3D modeling and printing for enhanced visualization appears beneficial 9 …”

Three‐dimensional real and virtual models in fetal surgery: a real vision

“…3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a type of technology that, when combined with non-invasive medical imaging techniques such as 3D-/4D-US, MRI and CT, allows accurate physical reproduction of maternal and fetal internal structures (such as the skeleton or internal organs). The printing process can employ various materials, as diverse as thermoplastics and plaster 50 . Through the sequential layer-by-layer deposition of the selected material, digitally reconstructed 3D images can be printed out to create physical models representing structures ranging from an isolated organic defect to the whole fetus 51,52 .…”

“…Through the sequential layer-by-layer deposition of the selected material, digitally reconstructed 3D images can be printed out to create physical models representing structures ranging from an isolated organic defect to the whole fetus 51,52 . These physical 3D models can be used to simulate particular anatomical regions and patient-specific morphology beyond the surgical environment, presenting with considerable accuracy many of the characteristics of the original structures, including their dimensions, geometry, surface roughness and even color variations 50 .…”

Application of Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Orthopaedic

“…Hence, 3D printing is often used in combination with computer-aided design (CAD) which can convert the designed 3D digital model into a physical model. The 3D printed models have been widely used in clinical treatment due to their benefits of personalization and precision, which are very necessary in personalized treatment in Pediatric Orthopaedics (27). 3D technology is widely used in the fabrication of customized surgical templates.…”