Abstract:Objective To study the role and application value of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in surgical treatment of skull base tumor through 3D reconstruction of skull base tumor and surrounding tissue structures for the acquisition of their anatomical parameters, construction and print of individualized 3D model.Methods Clinical data of 15 patients with complex cranial base tumors (including meningioma, pituitary tumor, olfactory neuroblastoma, craniopharyngioma, schwannoma and chordoma) admitted to Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from May 2019 to January 2021 were collected. According to the original data of preoperative imagings, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography angiography (CTA) and 3D reconstruction, “MINICS” software was used to read the original images of patients, and 3D printing software and 3D reconstruction technology were used to design the surgical plan individually.Results Individual model of skull base tumor and surrounding structures was three-dimensionally reconstructed and printed in all the 15 patients. The distributions and routes of important blood vessels around the tumor were analyzed according to the model to avoid injury during operation. Surgical treatment was successfully performed in all the patients, including total resection in 14 cases and subtotal resection in one followed by postoperative radiotherapy. Follow-up revealed that 14 patients recovered with neither postoperative complications nor recurrence, and one patient with subtotal resection of spindle cell malignancy relapsed and got improved after comprehensive treatment combined surgery and radiotherapy.Conclusion Personalized 3D model of skull base tumor printed by 3D technology can be used to design and plan the resection of skull base tumor and postoperative repair and reconstruction, which is of great significance for guiding clinical complete resection of tumor tissue, protection of adjacent nerves and blood vessels, as well as postoperative repair of defect.
