Applications of 3D Printing and Virtual Modeling in the Assessment of Visceral and Renal Artery Aneurysms.
Daniel Grzegorz Soliński, Hanna Wiewióra, Wacław Kuczmik, Maciej Wiewióra
Abstract
Open AccessBackground/Objectives: The possibilities of endovascular and minimally invasive treatment of visceral and renal artery aneurysms require precise procedure planning. Accurate visualization of vascular pathologies is crucial in this regard. Expanding diagnostic imaging with real 3D models is one of these methods. The objective of our study was to evaluate the utility of 3D printing and virtual 3D models in visualizing visceral and renal artery aneurysms. Methods: A group of 30 patients with true aneurysms of the visceral and renal arteries was selected based on computed tomography angiography (CTA). Aneurysm morphology, diameters, arterial diameters, and anatomical vessel variants were analyzed. Imaging data were processed and 3D-printed using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) technology. The resulting 3D models were measured, and dimensional deviations were compared to radiological images. Results: The cohort included 51 aneurysms across arteries supplying abdominal organs, with splenic artery aneurysms (49%) and renal artery aneurysms (25.5%) predominating. Half of the patient group had multiple aneurysms, and 36.7% exhibited anatomical arterial variants. Forty-three 3D models of visceral and renal artery aneurysms were generated, accurately depicting isolated vascular pathologies and the course of visceral arteries in regions of interest. Measurement analysis confirmed that the 3D-printed models showed a mean dimensional deviation of 0.24 mm compared to radiological images. Conclusions: 3D-printed and virtual models enhance the analysis of vascular pathologies, significantly improving the assessment of pathological changes and visualization of anatomical details, especially in hilar aneurysms and aneurysm branches.