Three-dimensional printing of the human lung pleural cavity model for PDT malignant mesothelioma

Our plain-English summary of Three-dimensional printing of the human lung pleural cavity model for PDT malignant mesothelioma, by D. Sourvanos, H. Sun, T.C. Zhu, et al (Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy, 2024).

The study

• Authors: D. Sourvanos, H. Sun, T.C. Zhu, A. Dimofte, B. Byrd, T.M. Busch, K.A. Cengel, R. Neiva, J.P. Fiorellini
• Journal: Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
• Published: 2024;46:104014
• Cited by: 2 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

Objective: The primary aim was to investigate emerging 3D printing and optical acquisition technologies to refine and enhance photodynamic therapy (PDT) dosimetry in the management of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).

Materials And Methods: A rigorous digital reconstruction of the pleural lung cavity was conducted utilizing 3D printing and optical scanning methodologies. These reconstructions were systematically assessed against CT-derived data to ascertain their accuracy in representing critical anatomic features and post-resection topographical variations.

Results: The resulting reconstructions excelled in their anatomical precision, proving instrumental translation for precise dosimetry calculations for PDT. Validation against CT data confirmed the utility of these models not only for enhancing therapeutic planning but also as critical tools for educational and calibration purposes.

Conclusion: The research outlined a successful protocol for the precise calculation of light distribution within the complex environment of the pleural cavity, marking a substantive advance in the application of PDT for MPM. This work holds significant promise for individualizing patient care, minimizing collateral radiation exposure, and improving the overall efficiency of MPM treatments.

Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.

In plain English

This pre-clinical laboratory study concerned light-dose planning for photodynamic therapy (PDT), a light-activated treatment used with surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma. It involved no patients and did not study asbestos exposure. From CT images, the authors built a real-size digital model of a human pleural cavity and 3D printed it in clear acrylic resin, giving a 2-liter base-and-lid model. The printed model was CT scanned. Its inner surface, lined with non-reflective adhesive paper, was then scanned with two handheld optical scanners. The smallest surface detail was 0.5 mm for the Artec Leo scan and 2.4 mm for the Occipital Structure Core scan, against 1.0 mm for the CT-generated and 3D-printing models. Inner-surface dimensions were 220.0 by 166.2 by 134.3 mm for the CT-generated model and 215.8 by 163.2 by 126.9 mm for the Artec Leo scan. The authors noted that light reflection from the resin differs significantly from real pleural tissue. They concluded that the protocol enabled precise calculation of light fluence within the pleural cavity.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Ex vivo pre-clinical laboratory study: a 3D-printed model (phantom) of a human pleural cavity, compared across CT and two optical scanning methods
• Who was studied: No patients. A single real-size 3D-printed model of a human lung pleural cavity, built from CT imaging, at the University of Pennsylvania
• Exposure: No asbestos or other environmental exposure was studied. The subject was imaging and 3D-printing methods for planning the light dose in photodynamic therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma.
• Main results:
  • The printed model, made as a base and a lid, had a combined volume of 2 liters
  • Minimum 3D surface resolution: 1.0 mm for the original CT-generated model, 1.0 mm for the 3D-printing model, 2.4 mm for the Occipital Structure Core scan and 0.5 mm for the Artec Leo scan
  • Inner-surface dimensions from point cloud analysis: 220.0 by 166.2 by 134.3 mm for the original CT-generated model; 215.2 by 162.2 by 123.6 mm for the 3D-printing model; 222.2 by 160.0 by 129.9 mm for the Occipital Structure Core scan; 215.8 by 163.2 by 126.9 mm for the Artec Leo scan
  • Scanning the model with the Artec Leo took 1 minute 54 seconds in total
  • Non-reflective adhesive paper placed on the inner surface was used to overcome reflections from the clear resin that interfered with optical scanning
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that the protocol enabled precise calculation of light fluence within the complex geometries of the pleural cavity and could serve as a template for further work
• Limitations the authors state:
  • Light reflection from the resin-printed surface differs significantly from reflection from real pleural tissue in the body

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Lung cancer, Mesothelioma.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Pleural Cavity, Mesothelioma, Pleural Mesothelioma.

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