Three-Dimensional Printing in Cardiovascular Disease: Verification of Diagnostic Accuracy of 3D Printed Models

Abstract

This article discusses the diagnostic accuracy of patient-specific 3D printed models in delineating cardiovascular anatomy and disease, with a focus on a recent paper published in the American Journal of Roentgenology about the accuracy of 3D printed hollow models of visceral aneurysms. Three aspects will be discussed in this review: first, 3D printed physical models are accurate in assessing the sizes and shapes of visceral aneurysms and related arteries; second, a more reliable method was implemented in this study for measurement of the diagnostic accuracy of 3D printed model to further validate the precision of 3D printing technique; and finally, 3D printed models serve as a reliable tool for replicating anatomical structures and pre-surgical simulation of endovascular treatment of aneurysmal disease.