Feasibility Study Of 3D Printing-assisted Endoscopic Surgery For Skull Base Tumors

Object To explore the auxiliary role of 3D printing technology in endoscopic surgery for skull base tumors,and to evaluate the practical value of real-time 3D model in endoscopic simulated surgery and anatomy teaching.Method Five patients with complex skull base tumors admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital from October 2015 to March 2019,combined with 3D printing companies,used a variety of 3D printing technologies,different printing materials to print 5 patients 3D models.We use these models for surgical simulations and clinical teachings before surgeries,and choose the best surgical method and develop the surgical plan.11 neurosurgical clinical doctors of our department have scored the 3D models in terms of surgical simulation and pathological anatomy in 5 different standards(0-100 points).According to the final average score,the model materials and their modular combinations of the five models that are most conducive to surgical simulation and anatomical teaching are evaluated.Finally,the printed materials,printing time and printing price of the 5 3D models printed were compared and evaluated.Result We successfully printed for 3D models of 5 cases of complex skull base tumors,the surgeon selected the best surgical plan according to the 3D models and then has surgical treatment of 5 patients.Evaluation of the average score shows that the material,color,hardness,etc.of the model 4 printed by the mixed material photosensitive resin material are most favorable for the skull base endoscopic surgery simulation in the five models;The anatomical fineness,tissue transparency and tissue color of the example 5 model printed by the hard photosensitive resin material are the most favorable for anatomy teaching and preoperative condition analysis in these 5 models.The average 3D printing time of the 3D models is 16.3h,and the shortest is 6.5h,and the average printing cost is 4,500 yuan.Conclusion 3D printing technology has high practical value in assisting endoscopic surgery for skull base tumors.The 3D printing time can still meet the needs of a slightly short preoperative examination preparation,and the average price is also within the patients,acceptable range.3D printing model evaluation feedback results show:choosing the right printing materials,printing fineness,module transparency and their combination is essential for surgical simulation and anatomy teaching.