Medical 3D printing for the radiologist
From personalized replacement body parts to safer surgeries, 3D printing is revolutionizing medicine. Dr. Frank Rybicki, an American expert in the field, tells Andrew Duffy what the future holds — and why he’s set up shop in Ottawa.
Dr. Frank Rybicki with a 3D-printed model skull at the Ottawa Hospital. Darren Brown, Ottawa Citizen
Mitsouras D, Liacouras P. et al., Abstract in Radiographics, Nov-Dec 2015
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 non-medical 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.
| Address email to F.J.R., Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and the Department of Radiology, University of Ottawa, 725 Parkdale Ave, Ottawa ON, Canada K1Y 4E9 |
Source Radiographics
| References |
| Further reading |
Three-dimensional Physical Modeling: Applications and Experience at Mayo Clinic, Matsumoto JS, Morris JM, Foley TA, Williamson EE, Leng S, McGee KP, Kuhlmann JL, Nesberg LE, Vrtiska TJ. Radiographics. 2015 Nov-Dec;35(7):1989-2006. doi: 10.1148/rg.2015140260.
Clinical Applications of 3D Printing: Primer for Radiologists, Ballard DH, Trace AP, Ali S, Hodgdon T, Zygmont ME, DeBenedectis CM, Smith SE, Richardson ML, Patel MJ, Decker SJ, Lenchik L. Acad Radiol. 2018 Jan;25(1):52-65. doi: 10.1016/j.acra.2017.08.004. Epub 2017 Oct 10. Full text, PDF
Also see
Superstar doctor brings medicine’s new dimension to Ottawa The Ottawa Citizen
Collaborative 3D Printing in Medical Practice Mayo School of Continuous Professional Development
