Heart tumor removed using 3D printing .

A four-year old patient with a large heart tumor came to pediatric cardiologist Dr. Blank of the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital of the University Medical Centre of Utrecht for a solution. The tumor caused the boy to suffer from heart rhythm problems, and it was quickly apparent to Dr. Blank that the only way to relieve these problems was to remove the tumor. The position of the tumor near the mitral value and coronary arteries poised a problem as it would be difficult to remove without damage to these areas,the team thus resorted to 3D printing to access the tumor and plan for the surgery. The international and multidisciplinary team reached out to Materialise to create a 3D-printed model of the heart to plan the surgery,the digital 3D file allowed the different teams throughout Europe to simultaneously discuss and visualize the size of the tumor, as well as observe its physical relationship with the mitral valve and coronary arteries. The clear information they received from the digital model,allow the medical teams decide that the surgery was feasible.The 3D-printed model was then used to help plan the surgery with the successful remove of the tumor, giving a little boy the chance for a healthier and event-free life. continue