3D Printing-Assisted Skull Base Tumor Surgeries: An Institutional Experience

Sanjeev Chopra; Ashim Kumar Boro; Virendra Deo Sinha

doi:10.1055/s-0041-1734001

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Original Article

12 (

); 630-634

doi:

10.1055/s-0041-1734001

3D Printing-Assisted Skull Base Tumor Surgeries: An Institutional Experience

Sanjeev Chopra¹, Ashim Kumar Boro¹, Virendra Deo Sinha¹

1Department of Neurosurgery, Sawai Man Singh Medical College, Jaipur, India

Virendra Deo Sinha Department of Neurosurgery, Sawai Man Singh Medical College Jaipur 302004 India sinhavd@yahoo.com

Epub ahead of print: 2021-09-16, Published: 2021-10-31

Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice

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This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Disclaimer:
This article was originally published by Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. and was migrated to Scientific Scholar after the change of Publisher.

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in neurosurgery has gained popularity nowadays. Skull base contains many major neurovascular structures in a confined space, along with anatomical variations making surgical approaches to this region challenging. 3D-printed model of skull base tumors consists of the patient's bony skull base, actual tumor dimensions, and surrounding major neurovascular structures. We included a total number of five patients with skull base tumors (one case of planum sphenoidale meningioma, two cases of sellar tumor with suprasellar extension, and two cases of cerebellopontine angle tumor) and 3D-printed tumor model of each of them. These models were used for preoperative simulation and served as very true to life training tool. These help in increasing the efficacy of the surgeon, improves surgical safety and ergonomics. They were also used for patient counselling, educating about the disease, the surgical procedure, and associated risks.

Keywords

skull base

3D printing

3D tumor model

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Introduction

Application of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in neurosurgery have gained popularity nowadays. Tumors of the skull base are commonly benign compared with those in other anatomical locations and complete excision leads to good outcome.1 Skull base contains many major neurovascular structures in a confined space, along with anatomical variations making surgical approaches to this region challenging.2 Development of surgical training devices to improve the required surgical skills along with the precise diagnosis and proper surgical plans are needed to reduce surgical complications.3 Micro-neurosurgical techniques have undergone rapid advancement with shifting of attention in skull base surgery to preserve important cranial blood vessels and nerves along with maximal tumor resection.4 Traditionally surgeon's anatomical knowledge, surgical skills, and experience, aided with intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring and neuronavigation were utilized for proper tumor resection and protecting surrounding structures.5 6 Surgeons have relied on cadaver specimens for better anatomical mileage and honing their surgical skillset, but cadavers are difficult to acquire. This technology allows surgeons to develop their operative precision. Here patients imaging data can be compiled into a 3D-printed model allowing a more practical assessment along with simulation preoperatively.1 4 The development of 3D models by rapid prototyping technique is being increasingly utilized in many surgical specialities.7 Benefit of this technology in improving surgical blueprint, aiding in diagnostic quality, decreasing blood loss, and shortening operating time have been favorably reported.8 Researches on 3D-printed tumor models along with cranial nerves are not being frequently reported. This is the first reported series of 3D-printed skull base tumors (five cases) in our country as per our knowledge.

Materials and Methods

Five patients with skull base tumors (one case of planum sphenoidale meningioma, two cases of sellar tumor with suprasellar extension, and two cases of cerebellopontine angle tumor) with unusual characteristics underwent surgery after preoperative simulation with 3D-printed models at our institute, department of neurosurgery SMS Medical College, Jaipur. The inclusion criteria used were: (1) tumor located at skull base region, (2) tumor abutting nearby neurovascular structures (wrapped, pushed, or infiltrated), (3) complete clinical information, and (4) pathological confirmation of tumor. Variables such as age, gender, size and site of lesion, volume of resection, duration of operation, blood loss, final histopathological diagnosis along with duration of hospitalization were also evaluated. Summary of cases and outcomes are shown below (Table 1).

Table 1

Demographic data, characteristics, and results of a case series of five patients

Patient	Gender	Age (years)	Location	Tumor size (mm)	Evaluation with 3D model	Approach	Final histopathology	Results
1	Female	39	Planum sphenoidale	22.5 × 21 × 19	Relation to optic nerve, surrounding Vessels, and bony structures	Left pterional craniotomy	Meningioma	Gross total resection, vision improved
2	Male	48	Sellar suprasellar	60 × 35 × 62	Revealed multiple lobulations, pituitary gland not seen separately, relation to surrounding neurovascular structures.	Left pterional craniotomy	Pituitary adenoma	Gross total resection
3	Female	26	Sellar-suprasellar	28 × 25 × 23	Relation to surrounding neurovascular and bony structures.	Endoscopic transnasal-transsphenoidal surgery.	Pituitary adenoma	Gross total excision
4	Female	25	Right CP angle	50 × 40 × 45	Relation of facial nerve to tumor found accurately.	Suboccipital retromastoid	Epidermoid	Gross total excision, facial nerve preservation
5	Male	34	Left CP angle	30 × 25 × 20	Facial nerve location did not correlate intraoperatively.	Suboccipital retromastoid	Acoustic schwannoma	Gross total excision, facial nerve palsy

Data Acquisition Methods

In every case, patients' imaging data were acquired by various techniques including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), computed tomography angiography (CTA), and diffusion tensor imaging. All CT, CTA, MRI, and DTI image data were stored in the standard format according to Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM). Then analysis and segmentation of images were done. This was followed by a conversation of DICOM data to standard tessellation language (STL) file format, finally optimization along with cleanup of STL file to obtain high-quality 3D model. The MIMICS 3D image reconstruction software was used to process the image data. First CT scan file was uploaded into MIMICS and segmentation of skull bone was done. The 3D object created can be further modified such as the opening of skull bone can be done and then saved as STL file. Next, CTA images were imported to MIMICS and saved. Similarly, a 3D model of tractography DICOM files was created. Tissues such as bone, tumor, vessels, and nerves were coded with different colors in the model. The resulting 3D model was then saved as STL file. These STL files were sent to 3D printing machine and the 3D tumor model printed having different colors for different components. Color coding was done both manually and by machine.

Discussion

Three-dimensional printing technology is an evolving technology for scientific research in the medical field8 and has aided in making prognosis better in most delicate and complex surgeries in neurosurgery. Skull base surgery is difficult because of limited operating space with surrounding important neurovascular structures.9 In 2013 Oishi et al21 reported simulation of operation on a 3D-printed skull base model prototype. 3D printing model of skull base tumors consists of the patient's bony skull base, actual tumor dimensions, and surrounding major neurovascular structures. These models perfectly exhibit the structural relations and help us to pre-plan operative approaches, perform simulated surgery on them, and to scrutinize the potential problems along with the extent of possible resection protecting surrounding neurovasculatures. Our 3D models were made of nontransparent materials which were flawed in certain aspects. Transparent material to 3D print tumors can be helpful to see the neurovascular structures both inside and outside the tumor. This article describes the use of 3D-printed solid models to recreate complex sellar region, cerebellopontine (CP) angle tumors, and a planum sphenoidal region tumor along with cranial nerves and major vessels. For tumors in the sellar-suprasellar region, relationship of ICA (internal cerebral artery) and optic chiasma with the tumor is important.10 The spatial position of the blood vessels and cranial nerves-pushed, wrapped or infiltrated by the tumors can be 3D printed and the best surgical route for excision can be decided. Appropriate parameters like the distance of anterior inferior chiasma from tuberculum sellae are very important for approaches to the suprasellar region as in the case of lateral approach to the region.11 This can be very well represented in a life-size 3D-printed model (Figs. 1 and 2). We found it very useful for accessing the thickness of sellar walls, the appearance of sella turcica along with the distance between the anterior sellar wall and tumor mass which helped in a proper presurgical simulation. For the planum sphenoidal tumor, we three-dimensionally printed the anterior skull base along with the tumor, surrounding vessels, and optic nerve (Fig. 3) which was very useful in preoperative simulation.

Approaches like the suboccipital-retrosigmoid approach are among the most common approaches preferred for CP angle tumors.12 In this region several important cranial nerves and blood vessels lie nearby providing a narrow operating space. 3D-printed CP angle tumor models can determine the location of bony landmarks and the size of the cranial opening needed to open the operating space via simulation (Figs. 4 and 5). Most of the tumors in this region are acoustic schwannoma and the goal of surgery is adequacy of tumor removal along with tumor removal in internal acoustic meatus with facial nerve preservation.13 We used DTI for reconstruction of seventh cranial nerve along with 3D-printed tumor model; it was very useful for preoperative simulation. However, it was not accurate in our case (Fig. 5). Our model also could not predict the degree of adhesion of tumor with the neurovascular structures. Hardness of the tumor could not be represented for preoperative simulation. In our 3D models we found delineation of the vessels was better than nerves. Restoring the skull base after surgery is a major hindrance. Incomplete reconstruction may lead to cerebrospinal fluid leakage (rhinorrhea, otorrhea), pneumocephalus, or meningitis. Improper reconstruction thus affects the recovery of the patient postoperatively.14 Various methods used for skull base tumor include pedicled fascial flap or titanium plates.15 Previously this reconstruction of the base along with duramater was used to be planned intraoperatively but nowadays proper presurgical planning can be executed with 3D-printed models. New researches have been carried out to develop small fabricated units as cell aggregate or biochemical to produce structures such as adipose tissue, muscle, bone, or cartilages by using bioprinting technology to prevent CSF leak.16 3D-printed models help the doctors to communicate better with the patient and their relatives regarding the disease.17 We used these models to educate and counsel the patient and their relatives about the tumor location, operative plan, and risks during surgery. Young neurosurgeons can use these models as a training tool as well as to device surgical strategies.18 The stereo evaluation of 3D data along with preoperative simulation of neurosurgery can give the surgeon additional confidence while working with complex surgical anatomies.19

Limitations and Future Prospects

We noticed that 3D-printed models with cranial nerves were not always comparable with per-operative findings. This model is useful for determining the position of the fiber bundle and their displacement by the tumor. We used DTI to print nerve fibers. DTI, based on the diffusion of water molecules,20 may be altered by tumor compression on the nerve fibers affecting density and integrity. This could affect accurate representation and printing of the cranial nerve extracted from DTI data. Intraoperative drainage of cerebrospinal fluid leads to relaxation of brain changes the position of the tumor along with surrounding neurovascular structures in comparison to simulated 3D-printed tumor model. This dynamic process could not be recreated and incorporated in our models which were made of rigid materials, so future designs will need to address these problems. Moreover, MRI studies presently can show only major vascular structures and smaller ones (<1 mm in diameter) are not captured, so could not be printed. To avoid complications, intraoperatively bleeding monitoring from these vessels need to be done. Our study consisted of five cases only which makes a very small series. For a more thorough evaluation of this technique, greater number of randomized controlled trials with multiple centers involvement needs to be done for better future prospects and acceptance.

Conclusion

Our 3D-printed skull base tumor models were made with DICOM data compiled from CT, CTA, MRI, and DTI studies. The final 3D-printed models had positional relationships of cranial nerves and blood vessels to the tumor mass along with useful bony landmarks. These models facilitated preoperative simulation and served as very true to life training tool, assisting the surgeon in positioning and allowing better identification of severely displaced structures like cranial nerves and blood vessels. Thus these 3D-printed models increase the efficacy of the surgeon, improves surgical safety and ergonomics. They can also be used for patient counselling, educating about the disease, the surgical procedure, and associated risks.

Conflict of Interest

None declared.

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